Application of Near Critical/Supercritical Solvent Cleaning Processes

Carbon dioxide can be used in its liquid (near critical) or supercritical fluid state as a replacement for conventional cleaning solvents, reducing the pollution associated with the operations that would otherwise require significant amounts of volatile organic compounds, ozone depleting substances, or hazardous air pollutants. The results of several near critical/supercritical parts cleaning and treatment studies performed at the Applied Research Laboratory are discussed. Near critical/supercritical processing is a commercially viable process for many industrial, electronic and medical device cleaning applications. This applications note will focus on industrial applications such as oxygen-service pressure gauges, fuel and transmission oil filters, and bearings.