Implementing Alternatives to Ozone Depleting Solvents: Some Considerations

The Aerospace Guidance and Metrology Center located at Newark Air Force Base in the state of Ohio, U.S.A., repairs inertial navigation and guidance equipment for the United States Air Force. The Center repairs thousands of the delicate, sophisticated electromechanical devices each year. The critical tolerances of many of the moving parts and other considerations mandate extensive "precision" cleaning as well as general cleaning during the repair process. The principal solvents used for this cleaning are 1,1 ,2-Trichloro 1, 2, 2-trifluoroethane and 1,1 ,1-Trichloroethane. The Center has begun modifying its many cleaning processes to use known alternatives for these solvents. The Center has already converted several processes to deionized water and biodegradable detergents and has committed extensive internal resources to define and implement changes throughout its remaining processes. While this effort has not been easy, it has made visible some special considerations which will ease and expedite the transition in the future.