Solvent cleaning and vapor degreasing

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  • Choosing the right option for precision cleaning and vapor degreasing isn’t as simple as just buying what you’ve always bought. Today, it’s about making better choices that reflect the vision and values of your business – a commitment to quality, a passion and sense of responsibility for worker safety, and a mission to help sustain the earth for future generations.

    It starts with intentionally developed chemistry that optimises all of these values. For manufacturers who need a circuit board cleaner, electric motor degreaser or other precision parts cleaner, performance is critical – but so is the safety of your workers. New regulations, more stringent requirements and sustainability initiatives give extra urgency to your selection when you want to replace trichloroethylene (TCE) or hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) solvents, find an n-propyl bromide (nPB) or methylene chloride alternative, or avoid the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) phasedown. We’ve designed our 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids to meet your solvent cleaning and vapor degreasing needs while supporting your higher purpose. Let us help you bring your ideal cleaning operation to life.

Novec solvent cleaners and degreaser chemicals for your industrial vapour degreasing and precision cleaning needs.
Excellent cleaning performance without compromise.
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Novec fluids: Smart, safe and sustainable solvent cleaners


Engineered for your need. Compatible with your process.

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3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids are designed with a range of boiling points, cleaning strengths, drying times and vapor pressures to help you find the cleaning solution you need.  View Product Selection Guide (PDF, 83 KB)

  • Close-up of gloved hand pouring Novec 73DE fluid out of glass sample bottle into a test tube
    What are Novec Engineered Fluids?

    Novec fluids are versatile, non-flammable fluids with a wide range of boiling points, excellent materials compatibility and thermal stability. Used in a variety of industrial applications, including solvent cleaning and vapor degreasing, Novec fluids offer a wide margin of safety, low GWP and zero ODP so you don’t have to compromise safety and sustainability for excellent performance.

  • Novec fluids are excellent solvent cleaners for precision machine parts.
    Materials compatibility

    At 3M, we know how important it is to find the right cleaning solution. That's why our line of 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids features a broad range of solvency, cleaning strengths and materials compatibilities. 3M Novec solutions are compatible with:

    • Ceramics
    • Circuit boards
    • Metals
    • Plastics

     

  • Male worker in reflective gear and hard hat inspecting large gear wheels in factory.
    Cleaning strength

    Whether you’re cleaning electronic components, medical devices or precision machine parts, one solution does not fit all. 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids come in a range of strengths to offer the right tool for the job, including products for:

    • Light-duty cleaning
    • Medium-duty cleaning
    • Heavy-duty cleaning

See how the range of 3M Novec Engineered Fluids is designed with specific attributes and compatibilities that meet your needs. With a range of boiling points, cleaning strengths, drying times and vapor pressures, you will find the solution you need.


  • Vapor Degreaser basket with electronics parts and components above Novec 73DE fluid.

    Introducing 3M™ Novec™ 73DE Engineered Fluid for heavy-duty vapor degreasing

    Designed to be a safer, effective replacement for toxic solvents like nPB and TCE, 3M Novec 73DE fluid has a wide margin of safety for heavy duty vapor degreasing and immersion cleaning. It features high solvency, low surface tension, non-flammability and fluid stability. Save time and money with faster cycles, lower energy use and improved performance, especially for complex parts with fine details. The newest member of the Novec family, Novec 73DE fluid demonstrates our commitment to ongoing innovation that meets your evolving needs.


Choose 3M Novec for safe, sustainable cleaning performance and collaboration

The demand for exceptional performance while lowering operating costs has never been greater. Add the commitment to providing a safer workplace and reducing environmental impact and the challenge is intensified. That’s where 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids and our team of experts can help.

  • Purple shield icon with heart in middle, representing safety
    High safety margin

    Novec fluids are a safer alternative to n-propyl bromide (nPB) and trichloroethylene (TCE) because of their high margin of safety. Typical vapor degreaser exposure is 10 ppm and all Novec fluids have a safety margin wide enough for workers to safely use them in this application. In contrast, in order to safely use nPB in vapor degreasing, worker exposure levels need to be reduced to 0.1 ppm, which is 100x lower than typical exposure levels.

  • Purple icon of the earth being wrapped with a leaf and stem, representing environmentally friendly
    Low environmental impact

    Unlike many other cleaning and vapor degreasing solvents, Novec fluids are environmentally sustainable and are not scheduled for regulatory phasedown. Under the U.S. EPA’s SNAP program, they are acceptable substitutes in metals, electronics and precision cleaning applications based on their zero ODP, low GWP, low toxicity and non-flammability. Neat Novec fluids are also exempt from the EPA’s definitions for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

  • Purple icon of two sparkles, representing clean
    Powerful cleaning performance

    Because of their low surface tension, Novec organic solvents can penetrate tight spaces and thoroughly clean hard-to-reach areas. Novec organic solvents have excellent drying properties and evaporate quickly without leaving residue, which means parts get clean faster and costly “drag out” solvent losses are reduced. Together, these properties make them a smart choice for a variety of cleaning processes, from light-duty to heavy-duty and everything in between.

  • Purple icon of beaker with Novec in the middle, representing Novec science and value
    Where science and collaboration meet

    At 3M, we develop breakthrough science that applies to your real-world cleaning needs – and our value goes far beyond sustainable chemistry. Our 3M Novec experts can help you work through the nuances of designing a new cleaning process or incorporating a replacement cleaning solution. We can help you achieve your goals while navigating complex government regulations, safety needs, business goals and technical precision.


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Learn more about Novec solvent cleaners and request for samples

Our team of engineers, scientists and experts are here to answer your questions and offer you global support, including sample requests, application advice and technical support, and where to buy information.