The most critical element to achieving a consistent performance whilst adhering to general safety and quality standards is choosing the correct solvent & partner in the first place.
Solvents are used across a wide range of applications from pharmaceutical production, coatings, manufacturing, cleaning processes and a wide range of industrial applications.
There are also a wide range of solvents to choose from, therefore understanding what you are looking to achieve and the properties that the solvent provides is critical. Specialist solvent suppliers will be able to support you in choosing the correct product for the correct application.
Each solvent has different features and benefits including but not limited to:
- Solvency power: dissolve or disperse materials effectively
- Composition: Density and distillation can influence performance within the process
- Volatility: speed of evaporation, flash point or vapour pressure can all impact performance
- Stability: how the solvent performs over long periods to provide long term consistency of outcome
- Purity: virgin solvents will have a higher purity level than recycled material
- Toxicity: what process will the solvent be involved in and is it safe to use within the process
- Boiling Point: this will have an impact on the drying temperature and energy consumption
Choosing the Right Solvent Starts
with the Right Application
The above are some of the key considerations required when choosing the correct product in the process. Solvent suppliers can be very different from chemical suppliers or industrial chemical suppliers, and it is imperative to choose who you partner with wisely when it comes to getting the correct solvent for the application required.
We have provided some good examples of where you can choose the correct solvent:
- 1. Printing Ink: if your process involves getting printing ink applied consistently to a plastic wrapper for example, it is important that you choose a solvent or blend of solvents that is going to disperse your ink effectively but also allow the ink to dry efficiently so that it does not smear or smudge.
- 2. Cleaning and Degreasing: if you are looking to dissolve oils or greases to give you the finish to apply the coating in a consistent manner, you need to choose the correct degreasing solvents that offers you low viscosity to get through small gaps in your finished product or one that is more volatile and will evaporate quickly to give you the desired outcome.
- 3. Extraction or separation: Different substances have a diverse range of solubilities in a variety of solvents. You can use this selectivity to dissolve a desired compound while leaving unwanted material behind, or to transfer a compound from one liquid phase into another.
- 4. Pharmaceutical Extraction or separation: solvents can help dissolve the active ingredient, intermediates or excipients to ensure a uniformed mix or blend therefore giving you a consistent end product.
- 5. Electronics or Medical Devices: high purity cleaning solvents are critical to help you remove microscopic containments as they can clean delicate surfaces without aggressive mechanical action and then can evaporate away leaving you a finished product without any conductive or corrosive residues.
The Right Solvent Improves Performance,
Safety and Consistency
So, in short, solvents have a wide range of applications and benefits. As already mentioned, Solvent suppliers can be very different from chemical suppliers.
Charles Tennant Ireland are not your usual chemical supplier in Ireland, we have over 200 years of delivering excellence across our reliable supply chain, on time delivery, quality assurance and technical expertise.
If you require support in picking the correct solvent, to give you the desired outcome in a safe and efficient manner, get in touch with our team and we will be happy to help you through the process.
