High technology is more and more complex and needs an increasingly large number of materials differing in nature and properties used in an almost infinite number of combinations. In order to achieve optimum operation, very clean surfaces are quite often needed. Industry, therefore, requires solvents which are very efficient in removing contaminations and are not aggressive toward the parts to be cleaned; the solvents must allow the treatment of complete assemblies (electronic circuits, precision parts, optical parts...) by a convenient and fast procedure.

In former times, CFC-113 was used to obtain perfectly cleaned surfaces in a great number of such applications. However, like all fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons, CFC-113 falls under the international regulations aimed at the protection of the stratospheric ozone layer and is therefore phased out.

Solkane^® 141b is a product developed by Solvay, which is well suited for the substitution of CFC-11 as blowing agent for polyurethane foams and for the partial substitution of CFC-113 as solvent and drying agent.

Compared to CFC-113, Solkane^® 141b is approximately ten times less harmful to stratospheric ozone and is recognized as an interim solution allowing the rapid phase-out of CFCs.

Especially in the field of solvents, Solkane^® 141b enables the users to continue using and paying off their existing equipment without major changes, which is not the case with aqueous or semi-aqueous processes.

HCFC-141b is a solvent with its own characteristics. We offer guidance to our customers to help them minimize emissions and adapt their equipment, so as to use Solkane^® 141b in the best possible way.