Crane Aerospace & Electronics

Vapor Degreaser Solvent Replacement

Crane Aerospace & Electronics needed a long-term replacement for Vertrel SFR after Chemours announced the solvent’s discontinuation. The project evaluated alternative cleaning solvents for vapor degreasing applications, with attention to compatibility with existing CAE equipment, electronic materials, and inspection requirements including IPC and MIL-STD criteria. Candidate solvents were reviewed and down-selected based on their ability to remove contaminants such as fluxes, solder pastes, oils, and greases without degrading materials already present in devices, including silicones, epoxies, and component coatings. The work produced a testing approach, material compatibility and cleanliness data, and a recommended replacement solvent path for further CAE validation.