Vapour Degreasing / Advanced Vapour Degreasing (AVD)
The vapor zone cleaning system is a tried and true industry standard for parts cleaning. It consists of a reservoir of boiling or heated organic solvent. Pure solvent vapor migrates upward to where the parts are located. Cleaning generally occurs within this vapor phase above the boiling liquid, though parts are sometimes immersed in the solvent briefly to increase cleaning speed or help soften and remove extremely tenacious soils. The vapors are able to penetrate the tight spaces in the parts' surfaces, thus improving efficiency. A cooling jacket is used to condense vapors at the top of the reservoir, thus, fresh cleaning solvent is returned to the reservoir. This also maintains both the effectiveness of the vapor degreasing solvent and keeps emissions to a minimum.

There are some cases where the vapor is 'superheated' above the boiling sump to enhance drying efficiency. Using mechanical agitation from ultrasonic or spray under-immersion systems can further enhance the vapor degreasing cleaning action but only when a part is immersed in the solvent bath.

Co-Solvent Cleaning
Systems are designed to use two liquids: a solvating agent and a rinsing agent. The properties of the cleaning and rinsing agent can be matched to the contaminants of concern. This allows for optimization of each step in the cleaning process. Co-Solvent* systems are especially useful in application where parts have complex internal geometries that may be difficult to reach or in other precision applications such as electronics and optics. Co-Solvent* cleaning process is a vapor degreaser emulator while it is technically not vapor degreasing, it is in most respects functionally equivalent to vapor degreasing. In the process, a combination of two appropriately chosen types of materials, each having particular characteristics operates in conjunction to produce a process which is essentially indistinguishable from conventional vapor degreasing.

These two types of substances, named according to fun Co-Solvent* technology is a new approach to cleaning. Like semi-aqueous cleaning the Co-Solvent* process uses separate materials for dissolving the soil and then rinsing the solvent plus soil form the parts. But unlike semi-aqueous cleaning,the Co-Solvent* process avoids the use of water and its numerous associated problems, such as its difficulty in drying and its tendency to promote corrosion. Co-Solvent* equipment, while sophisticated in design, is easy and uncomplicated to operate.

Unlike any of the other process alternatives which have been proposed for replacing ozone-depleting solvents in vapor degreasing, equipment for this new process looks and functions like an ordinary vapor degreaser. Parts are cleaned in similar cycle times, they emerge clean and dry, and there are esse ntially no waste streams to deal with. To the casual observer and to the process operator a Co-Solvent* unit behaves like the vapor degreaser with which he is already familiar.

Ultrasonic Cleaning.
Equipment consists of a transducer, which converts electricalenergy into mechanicl energy, and ultrasonic generator, and a tank for containing the cleaning liquid. This method of cleaning depends upon cavitation, which is the rapid formation of tiny bubbles or cavities in a cleaning liquid. The cavitation is created by the introduction of high frequency (ultrasonic) high intensity sound waves into the liquid. The agitation by the countless imploding bubbles may be compared to a scrubbing type action on both exposed and hidden areas of the immersed parts. Ultrasonics can be used for cleaning both large and tiny parts, including many delicate electronic assemblies. Drying may be necessary

Immersion Cleaning.
A part or parts to be cleaned is immersed in a suitable cleaning medium to dissolve or displace the unwanted soil. May use various forms of agitation including Ultrasonics, Spray, Flushing, Spray under immersion, Centrifugal cleaning, Heating, Air bubbling. Drying may be necessary.

Aqueous Cleaning.
A method in which parts are immersed in or sprayed with water or a water mix to which suitable detergents, saponafiers or other additives have been dissolved. May use various forms of agitation including Ultrasonics, Spray, Flushing, Spray under immersion, Centrifugal cleaning, Heathing, Air bubbling.

Semi-Aqueous Cleaning.
A process in which parts to be cleaned are immersed in or sprayed with a solvent/surfactant concentrate. The concentrate/dissolved soil residue is then rinsed with water to leave a clean surface. May use various forms of agitation including Ultrasonics, Spray, Flushing, Spray under immersion, Centrifugal cleaning, Heating, Air bubbling.

Spot Free Low Energy Displacement Drying
Water wet parts are dried by immersion in cascading and boiling baths of a low surface tension high density inert fluid with a hydrophobic fluorosurfactant additive. Water is displaced to a separator where it is removed from the system.

Spray-under-immersion.
A cleaning or rinsing method in which parts are immersed in the cleaning/rinsing solution.  
Cleaning/rinsing is enhanced by spraying solution on the part.