Vertrel® XF is a proprietary hydrofluorocarbon fluid with zero ozone-depletion and a low global warming potential ideally suited for use in vapor degreasing equipment for cleaning, rinsing, and drying. It can replace current hydrochloro- fluorocarbon (HCFC) and perfluorocarbon (PFC) fluids in most applications. Vertrel® XF is HFC 43-10mee or 2,3-dihydrodecaflu- oropentane; empirical formula C5H2F10. It is a clear, colorless liquid.

Another common cleaning technique is the addition of ultrasonics to the solvent. High frequency, ultrasonic waves produce tiny bubbles that form and collapse (cavitate) as the wave passes. Cavitation energy increases with decreasing viscosity, another advantage of Vertrel™ XF, improving its ability to mechanically dislodge particle contamination. 

Vapor Degreasing Process
Use of modern vapor containment technology is recommended for both batch and in-line equipment. These 
systems have higher freeboard and a secondary set of low-temperature (–29°C [–20°F]) condenser coils to greatly reduce vapor losses from boiling solvent degreasing, defluxing, rinsing, and drying equipment. 
Neat Vertrel™ XF can be used for rinsing, drying, and some cleaning applications, but use with other components, such as azeotropes or simple blends, can provide improved solvency and soil removal. Vertrel™ XF forms azeotropes or constant boiling mixtures with many similar boiling range components. Five nonflammable proprietary azeotrope compositions have been developed that are useful for general, as well as precision, cleaning and defluxing. See specific product bulletins for details

Vertrel® XF is ideally suited for cleaning fine particu- late matter (submicron range) from metal and nonmetal parts. Removal of particle contamination requires a solvent that can minimize the thickness of the laminar boundary layer where particles are bonded to the substrate. The electronic attraction between particle and surface can be overcome further by increasing the polarity of the fluid through the addition of small amounts of alcohols. Chemours offers a series of proprietary azeotrope and blend compositions which exploit this property

Plastic and Elastomer Compatibility
A large variety of plastics and elastomers can be safely exposed to Vertrel™ XF. Tables 4 and5summarize test 
results on short-term exposures of unstressed plastics and elastomers, which simulate a typical cleaning cycle.Long-term compatibility data simulating exposure of vapor degreaser construction materials is available from Chemours upon request. Elastomer swelling and shrinking will, in most cases, revert to within a few percent of original size after air drying. Swell, shrinkage, and extractables are strongly affected by the 
compounding agents, plasticizers, and curing used in the manufacture of plastics and elastomers. Therefore, prior in-use testing is particularly important.

Physical Properties
Property Vertrel™ XF
Molecular Weight 252
Boiling Point, °C (°F) 55 (130)
Surface Tension, N/m (dyn/cm) 0.0141 (14.1)
Liquid Density, kg/L (lb/gal) 1.58 (13.2)
Freezing Point, °C (°F)  -80 (-112)
Solubility in Water, ppm 140
Solubility of Water, ppm 490
Critical Temperature, °C (°F) 81 (357)
Critical Pressure, kPa (atm) (psia) 2,288 (22.6) (331.9)
Critical Volume, L/mol (cc/mol) 0.433 (433)
Heat of Vaporization (at boiling point), cal/g (kJ/kg) 31.0 (129.7)
Specific Heat at 20°C, kJ/kg •°C 13
Vapor Pressure, kPa (atm) (psia) 30.1 (0.297) (4.37)
Viscosity, cP 0.67