Asahiklin AK-225 (neat) is 100% HCFC-225. It is an environmentally sensible hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), designed to replace chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and other HCFCs, which have high ozone depletion potential, in a variety of applications. Its selective solvency, physical properties and ability to form azeotropes makes AK-225 ideal for general and precision cleaning, drying and defluxing applications. AK-225 can also be used as a carrier for silicone and fluorinated lubricants and also as a coolant. Asahiklin AK-225 is about as close as one can get in today's market to the properties of chlorofluorocarbon solvents which are no longer available commercially.
Asahiklin AK-225 is thermally stable, non-flammable and recoverable by distillation with no decomposition. It has substantially lower global warming potential (GWP) than PFCs and HFCs and an extremely low ozone depletion potential (ODP).
Other important information is available from SPI Supplies relative to AK-225 including safety, "SNAP", physical properties and material compatibility.
AK-225 is an excellent "last cleaning" step for metal parts before being put into high vacuum or UHV systems after cleaning. It is especially useful as a final cleaning aid for electron microscope columns, both SEM and TEM as well as other UHV analytical instruments such as XPS, Auger, SIMS, etc. Typically, one first cleans with either PIKAL® Paste (recommended) or POL® Metal Polish and then the polishing material would be removed using AK-225 and ultrasonics.
Even though AK-225, from an ozone-depletion standpoint was a big improvement over the compounds it replaced, it is still, by many countries, not considered the "ultimate solution". The product is used widely in the USA and other countries. However, it is not permitted to be used in the EU and certain other countries. But exemptions are available for specific industries and specific applications. For example, there is an exemption in the EU for the aerospace industry through to the year 2008. But only the largest of users actually go through the trouble of submitting the paperwork needed to get the exemption. So from a practical standpoint, it is not used widely in the EU. We have never seen a country by country listing that gave the various industrial exemptions. Therefore, if you are outside the USA, it is your responsibility to contact your various regulatory people to make sure that AK-225 can be legally imported for your intended application.
Asahi Glass Co. Ltd. was presented the 1994 Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award by the US EPA "For Corporate Leadership in Responsible Marketing of CFC Alternatives".
We are often times asked whether the waste AK-225 can be stored in a plastic container instead of glass, recognizing that an accidental drop of a glass bottle will break it for sure whereas the dropping of a plastic bottle probably will not result in any particular issues. But there are good solid reasons why the material is stored in glass bottles. It is a chlorinated solvent, and there is some risk of penetration through a polymer container, especially if a plasticizer is present. And just how fast this will attack the bottle is anyone's guess. But it might very well depend on at least in part, what might have been added in the way of plasticizer during formulation of the plastic resin.
There are some situations in which Asahiklin AK225 mixtures definitely cannot be handled in plastic; in other cases, it may be marginal, but it will probably work. If you really want to use a plastic bottle for waste storage, you must do some testing yourself of the actual waste you will be generating. We certainly do understand why one might want to use a plastic container for greater protection against breakage if the container is dropped, but we did want to point out that using plastic containers, it can be a trade-off between one's desire for greater protection against breakage if dropped, but clearly, by using a plastic container, you could very well be trading this obvious risk for a less obvious risk of slow seepage through container walls.
Boiling Point: 54°C (129°F) Flash Point (TCC): None Evaporation Rate: > 1
3,3-dichloro-1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane (HCFC-225ca) CAS #422-56-0 1,3-dichloro-1,1,2,2,3-pentrfluoropropane (HCFC-225cb) CAS #507-55-1
