Products Finishing magazine is the No. 1 industrial finishing publication in the world. We keep our readers informed about the latest news and trends in plating, painting, powder coating, anodizing, electrocoating, parts cleaning, and pretreatment.
Issue link: https://pf.epubxp.com/i/100758
Ne w s Solvent Cleaning News By Barbara and Ed Kanegsberg of BFK Solutions. Subscribe to their Clean Source newsletter at bfksolutions.com and check out the special cleaning section in this issue, beginning on p. 26. OTC Solvent Degreasing Rule in States��� Hands The Ozone Transport Commission (OTC), an organization of states in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region created under the Federal Clean Air Act, is charged with achieving better air quality, in part by decreasing VOCs. On March 12, 2012, the OTC approved a model rule for solvent degreasing that is strongly influenced by Southern California regulations, notably the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). The VOC limit in the model rule is 25 g/L. To use higher VOC limits, ���airless��� cleaning systems would be required. The next step is the rule-making processes; the model rule can be adopted or adapted by individual states. For example, Delaware is expected to start the rule-making process at the beginning of this year. More Restrictions on HCFC 225 for Cleaning In order to achieve better consistency with the Clean Air Act, the U.S. EPA has modified its position regarding the phase-out of HCFC 225 (hydrochlorofluorocarbon 225, AK 225). Manufacturers can purchase and use HCFC 225 until the end of 2014, however, starting Jan. 1, 2015, they are banned from using virgin HCFC 225 in vapor degreasers or in any other application where they would have to transfer the 225 out of the storage container and into another container (like an ultrasonic tank, a dip tank or a dispenser bottle). The interpretation from EPA had been that manufacturers could use their existing stockpiles of 225 for product cleaning���this is no longer the case. Does this rule out all continued uses of HCFC 225? No. There are two cases where 225 can be used after the end of 2014. First, you can continue to use HCFC 225 in such items as aerosols or presaturated wipes. The rationale is that the device containing the HCFC 225 is directly providing the use. Second, HCFC 225 can be used if it is totally consumed (as in a feedstock for synthesizing chemicals), recovered or recycled. This means you can use recycled HCFC 225 indefinitely. Therefore, if there is a customer or program requirement to use HCFC 225, one short-term solution might be to stockpile recycled chemical. The terms recovered and recycled are used, but there is no elaboration about the definition. An official notice about this is expected to be published in the Federal Register. The Test of Time ... PosiTest �� Coating Thickness Gage for measuring non-magnetic coatings on steel ��� ��� ��� ��� The Measure of Quality 8 JANUARY 2013 Tough enough for any environment No batteries/electronics Accurate and dependable Free Certificate of Calibration traceable to NIST DeFelsko Corporation ��� Ogdensburg, New York Phone: +1-315-393-4450 ��� Toll Free: 1-800-448-3835 www.defelsko.com ��� techsale@defelsko.com Calif. Chemical Processor Sentenced for False Statements Bowman Plating, a chemical processing company located in Compton, Calif., was sentenced in U.S. District Court for providing false statements related to the chemical processing of aircraft parts sold to commercial aviation companies and to the DoD. Bowman was ordered to pay a fine of $500,000 and a special assessment of $1,200, and to serve three years probation. In 2006, several companies retained Bowman to complete chemical film coating for their aircraft parts. The companies submitted purchase orders listing the required specifications. The coating was performed and Bowman issued certificates of conformance certifying that the aircraft parts were processed in accordance with applicable specs. The parts were then shipped to Bowman���s customers. Following a third-party chemical process control test, the company issued a report documenting that the test had failed. Although the parts had already been shipped along with the COCs, Bowman did not notify its customers of the failure.