Replacements and Solutions

The industrial cleaner and grease remover Trichlorethylene (TCE), also known as ethylene
trichloride or trilene, has been banned by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a
health hazard.  Used for many years as a cleaner and degreaser, TCE has been found to be
the cause of cancer and having negative effects on various organ systems due its inhalation.
The stipulations from the EPA indicate that the sale of TCE ended on June 15 th , 2025, and its
use must end by September 15th , 2025.

In an effort to protect the community and our customers, the staff at Nanoplas are have
removed our TCE product line and are recommending safer chemicals that perform the same
work as TCE. In order to facilitate the switch from TCE, Nanoplas has prepared a list of reliable
chemicals for cleaning and degreasing.

EPA regulation 40 CFR 751 is a section of the code of federal regulations that outlines the
regulation of chemicals, substances, and mixtures listed in Section 6 of the Toxic Substances
Control Act (TSCA) of 1976. TCE has been added to the list after instances of its dangers
became apparent.

Companies and their products that have been affected by the EPA Regulation are:

• DAC Industries – DAC-205
• IMS Company – White 2000 and Non-Flammable Economy Mold Cleaner
• PPE/Plastic Processing Equipment – DMC-20
• Nanoplas – Power Clean – Off the Market as of June 16th , 2025

Due to the significance and the nature of the harm that TCE can do, Nanoplas is taking major
steps to help our clients transition from TCE to other, viable products. Other organizations, in
response to the EPA’s actions, are no longer offering degreasing solvents and have stopped
manufacturing them. 3M and Novec have ceased production of their products. As more and
more companies initiate their adherence to EPA standards, TCE will disappear as a degreaser
and cleaner.

Selection Process for TCE Replacement

The necessity of replacing TCE initiates the process of choosing the proper solution that is
people safe, planet safe, and economical. There are three factors that have to be considered
when examining the alternatives to TCE, which are type of contamination, the substrate to be
cleaned, and the location of the cleaning.

Contamination

Contamination refers to the material that is being cleaned, which can be flux paste or solder
residue, materials that are found on circuit boards. Cleaners for such products are different
than ones used to degrease metals. Lubricants, dust, metal particles, fingerprints, wax, and
various other forms of residue have to be removed from metal parts before they can be sent on
for further processing or being added to assemblies. In addition, cleaners are also used to
prepare products for painting, plating, and welding. The type of material to be removed
determines the cleaning fluid that will work best and not damage a product.

Substrate

A clear definition of the surface to be cleaned is important factor when choosing a cleaner. In
modern manufacturing, there is a long list of products and the materials from which they are
made. Plastics, ceramics, ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, and on and on are all used to
produce today’s high-quality products. The wrong solvent can damage the quality of a product
and deter from its value. In essence, the fluid used to clean the substrate should be perfectly
matched to the properties of the substrate. It is important that dirt, debris, and contaminates
can be safely displaced without causing detrimental effects to the substrate or flash rusting.

Location

Although the EPA is the governmental agency that regulates industrial substances, local
authorities may add to the EPA’s oversight with their own standards, since each state in the
United States is unique in its climate, surroundings, and geography. Most companies are fully
aware of local laws that govern the use of chemicals and strictly adhere to them. While the
EPA is the governing body in the United States, Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and
Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) is the organization that oversees chemicals used in Europe.
In California, Proposition 65, Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, provides
restrictions regarding chemical use in that state.

When making the transition from TCE to other cleaners, it is essential to work with a
manufacturer, such as Nanoplas, to use their expertise, experience, and know how in finding
the right fit for your application. The use of informed sources who have worked with solvents
and degreasers for many years can save time, money, and the laborious process of
researching the different alternatives.

Steps in the Replacement Process

• Onsite Audit – An onsite audit helps a manufacturer understand the specific cleaning
  problem in order to select the proper replacement for TCE. Key factors are fluid density
  and viscosity requirements that influence the cleaning process.
• Replacement – Manufacturers, such as Nanoplas, provide a wide assortment of
  solutions that can fit the requirements of any application.
• Tested Solutions – As is typical of modern industrial operations, manufacturers of
  cleaners and degreasers provide data regarding the lab testing of their products to
  prove a products viability. In the case of degreasers and cleaners, test data provides an
  understanding of the chemical content of a product and the effects of the chemicals.
• On-Site Demonstrations – All manufacturers prove the quality of their products by
  demonstrating the effectiveness of a product in a real-world situation.
• Other Solutions – If a product proves to be inappropriate for an application,
  manufacturers work closely with their clients to find the perfect match to ensure the
  quality of a client’s products.