There is a need for effective, environmentally compatible methods of removing soils and contaminants, including chemical and biological threat agents from equipment deployed in the field, and that can not be treated with aqueous base systems. Historically, such equipment has been cleaned or decontaminated by spraying and flushing with CFC-113, an Ozone Depleting Compound (ODC). The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 specifies its elimination from all DoD activities. Alternate methods of nondestructively decontaminating and cleaning water sensitive military equipment, such as electronic and communications systems components aboard military aircraft, are required. ESI's approach to this problem is to upgrade the performance characteristics of ODC/VOC HAP free hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), including hydrofluoroethers (HFEs), by the use of additives that enhance the cleaning/decontamination effectiveness of these fluorinated solvents but do not detract from their inherent safety characteristics and environmental properties, nor are likely to damage the items being treated. ESI's specific approach in Phase II will be to examine new classes of cosolvents that expected to provide improved performance, including the testing of this chemistry on a pilot scale with engineering test items representative of the field equipment that would have to be treated in the future.
Keywords: DECONTAMINATION CHEMICAL THREAT AGENT BIOLOGICAL THREAT AGENT ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT POLLUTION PREVEN
