Question: How do you know when something works really well?
Answer: When its performance can be validated in several different ways.
This holds true for CO2 technology. There are numerous ways to qualify the performance of our CO2 technology in your manufacturing operations. For example, the following are just a few example metrological techniques that demonstrate how CO2 technology can be validated.
Product Cleanliness
Particles and Residues
Surface and substrate contamination such as flux residues, organics, particulate matter, outgassing residues, ionic residues, and laser and mechanical machining heat is addressed (uniquely) with this technology. Available CO2 processes include one or a combination of composite jet sprays, centrifugal liquid immersion, supercritical fluid extraction, and both vacuum and atmospheric plasma surface treatments.
Product Performance
Bond Strength and Surface Roughness
Advanced carbon dioxide (CO2) spray cleaning technology provides various methods for consistently preparing surfaces for bonding operations. Numerous spray, immersion, and plasma CO2 treatments are available which may be combined with advanced collaborative robotics. The inherent adaptability, performance, and economy of CO2 technology provides numerous and varying manufacturing benefits.
A non-contact surface analysis device and technique called Optically Stimulated Electron Emission (OSEE) is used to analyze surfaces to determine surface quality levels before and after CO2 spray cleaning. OSEE surface inspection technology is a great way to validate CO2 Composite Spray™ for surface preparation. This process is most suited for analyzing metallic surfaces. For most metallic surfaces, the cleaner the surface the higher the OSEE photocurrent measured. OSEE can measure inorganic as well as organic contamination present on surfaces. Using OSEE before and after cleaning with CO2 composite spray is an excellent analytical and SPC technique for bonding processes, among other manufacturing processes.
Process Performance
Adaptability and Productivity
CO2 technology eliminates or significantly reduces both lean and green waste generation at the production operation level (source) by modifying manufacturing processes such as precision cleaning and machining. Because it is safe and dry, CO2 technology can integrate directly into manufacturing processes and tools to provide in-situ cleaning and/or thermal control. CO2 technology can be implemented in a variety of process configurations to meet the constraints of lean production layouts and product flow requirements, including direct integration into existing production lines and equipment where the surface contamination is being generated. CO2 is a safe and abundant compound that plays a very important role in many commercial and industrial applications. CO2 can be used in cleaning, cooling and machining applications. Many companies have implemented CO2-based cleaning technology and have realized improved productivity and a lower cost-of-operation of their production operations.
CO2 CleanTech represents a significant business opportunity to adapt production tools and operations to meet the challenges. The merging of green practices such as CO2 technology into manufacturing is delivering additional value in the form of less chemical, energy, labor, and water usage as well as the elimination of solid wastes, air and water pollution.
Specialized Metrology
Compatibility and Sterility
CO2 technology can be used as a solid, liquid, supercritical fluid, and both atmospheric and low-pressure plasma. CO2 is useful as a spray treatment agent, immersion and extraction solvent, as well as in the form of many hybrid or combinational substrate processing possibilities. Applications include precision degreasing, departiculation, outgassing, precision drying, disinfection, surface modification and functionalization, cooling and lubrication, among many others.
Ready for next steps? Try our free CO2 Consultation.
