Laboratory "duster" products are a lot less "generic" than they might at first appear.
All dusters sold in the USA, Europe, Japan and Asia are classified as "environmentally friendly". They have been approved by the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the governments of the EU and others.
However, there are differences in cleanliness of dusters which are filled in different facilities. There are also differences in moisture content, again because they are filled to various standards. The same facility that fills our cans also fills for the electronics industry which has the highest and most exacting cleanliness standards of all industries. The material going into the SPI Two-In-One OK Easy Duster Cans is moisture free, quadruple filtered for particulates, and as stated above, is completely nonflammable.
We offer only one product based on the use of pure propellant 134a, which chemically is 1,1,1, 2-tetrafluoroethane (CAS # 811-97-2). The product is nonflammable in both the liquid and gas form. This is extremely important for laboratory use, since one does not want to use a product whose vapor could be ignited by a spark in a piece of nearby equipment.
We urge our customers to use caution when purchasing a cheaper duster elsewhere. Specifically, you want to be cautious about any claims that a product is "US EPA approved" or "environmentally safe." Check the precise composition to make sure the fill is not 143a or R-143a. If it is, then the duster is highly flammable. The slightest spark can make the vapor burst into flame. It instantly ignites when in contact with an ignition source such as a live circuit or spark, etc.
There are other flammable materials that are used in dusters today. Some dusters use 152a straight or a blend of 152a with other propellants. 152a is cheaper in cost (relative to 134a) but it is highly flammable, especially in its liquid form.
