Medical Electronics
Choosing sustainable cleaning for greener medical electronic component production
By Elizabeth Norwood, senior chemist, MicroCare A
s environmental sustainability becomes more significant within the medical electronics sector, it is important to future-proof production with
manufacturing processes that focus on environmentally-friendly practices. However, this should not come at the cost of device reliability. Medical electronic components must work effectively and consistently without exception.
Quality component and device cleaning is a recognised method that helps guarantee reliability. Contamination on printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) is one of the main causes of electronic device failure. Even the smallest impurity can form a barrier between electrical contacts causing intermittent and unreliable performance. Improved cleaning directly translates to better functioning medical electronics. So, it is important for today’s medical device manufacturers to find a cleaning method that not only cleans well but is also environmentally sustainable to help protect workers and the planet.
Introduce sustainable cleaning processes
‘The healthcare sectors of England, the United States, Australia and Canada combined emit an estimated 748 million metric tons of greenhouse gases each year, an output greater than the carbon emissions of all but six nations worldwide.’1
This statistic is staggering and calls for medical electronic manufacturers to play their part with ‘green planning’ by implementing sustainable processes into all areas of production.
Cleaning is one area that can be updated to meet this sustainability challenge. It is important however to find a solution that can also clean dense circuitry within tiny, complex packages. Devices are becoming smaller, just think of the PCBAs found inside devices like wearable insulin pumps and cochlear implants. These small, multi- faceted packages make it challenging for electronic device manufacturers to ensure
48 May 2022
complete, yet efficient critical cleaning. Vapour degreasing - used in combination with an advanced, sustainable fluid - is a cleaning method answering the challenge. It is being more readily adopted within the medical electronics sector because it complies with the rising number of environmental laws regulating cleaning fluid use and worker safety; with the added benefit of providing a well-engineered cleaning process that simplifies compliance with strict EU Medical Device Regulations (EU MDR) that mandate device manufacturers satisfy strict technical documentation and clinical evaluations as part of a device’s certification.
Vapour degreasing uses cleaning fluid immersion, combined with vapour rinsing and vapour drying, to clean PCBAs down to the submicron level. It removes all types of residues from small, tightly packed PCBAs including fluxes, pastes, oils and particulate accumulated during the manufacturing process.
Sustainable cleaning fluids The modern cleaning fluids used in the vapour degreaser have outstanding ecological and safety credentials. They are not only effective at thoroughly cleaning components, but they stand up to the regulatory requirements of the medical industry and international governing bodies. These new progressive cleaning fluids benefit from meeting standards like those required by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) or the EU’s rules of REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals). Additionally, they feature a zero Ozone Deleting Potential (ODP) and low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) content, as well as having low Global Warming Potential (GWP).
Energy efficiency
Unlike other cleaning methods, vapour degreasing does not use water, therefore preserving this non-renewable natural resource. It also requires less energy to run since it does not have to heat water to cleaning temperature, use energy-hungry air knives or fans to dry the water off components, or use power to treat and purify the dirty
Components in Electronics
Vapour degreasing uses cleaning fluid immersion, combined with vapour rinsing and vapour drying, to clean PCBAs down to the submicron level.
waste water for re-use or disposal. Vapour degreasing fluids have a low boiling point and low heat of vapourization which reduces the amount of energy needed to heat the cleaner inside the machine. Parts emerge from the vapour degreaser completely dry so any additional energy-intensive drying methods like blowers are cut from the process altogether. This lower electricity usage quickly translates to reduced fossil fuel burning, reduced carbon emissions and lower greenhouse gas output overall.
Recycle
Sustainable vapour degreasing fluids are recycled and reused hundreds of times before they need to be refreshed or replaced, making it a cost-effective and environmentally sound cleaning method.
Because the cleaning fluid does not need stabilizers, scavengers or weekly acid acceptance testing they are more easily recycled on-site. In addition, the vapour degreaser concentrates the contaminants as it works, minimising the amount of hazardous waste generated.
Safety
A top priority when looking for sustainable cleaning solutions has to be worker safety.
Supporting health and safety with greener cleaning is vital. Removing chemistries that could be harmful, or are on the list of those under scrutiny, must be addressed and an alternative solution sought.
Advanced vapour degreasing fluids have very good safety profiles. They have excellent toxicity profiles and high Threshold Limit Values (TLVs), making them safer for workers to be around. Add to this the non-flammable feature of modern vapour degreasing fluids and the safety credentials increase further.
Meeting the sustainability challenge The use of sustainable cleaning fluids and methods plays an important role in meeting today’s sustainability challenge. Medical electronics manufacturers must not only use environmentally progressive fluids, but also ensure their manufacturing processes are completely reliable. Vapour degreasing with next-generation cleaning fluids not only effectively cleans medical components but also addresses energy usage, environmental concerns and worker safety.
www.microcare.com Reference1
:
https://news.yale.edu/2019/08/02/healthcare- industry-major-source-harmful-emissions
www.cieonline.co.uk
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