Kyzen Teams With DuPont to Commercialize Water-Miscible, Biodegradable Solvent
The multiyear agreement between DuPont and Kyzen covers specific applications involving electronics, back-end semiconductor wafer, and metal substrate cleaning. These are all markets where Kyzen already holds a leadership position. The company says it will formulate DMPD-based cleaning solutions in existing facilities and sell them under its Ionox, Aquanox, and Micronox trademarks.
DMPD is DuPont's patented blend of two isomers, 1,3-dimethyl-2-piperidone and 1,5-dimethyl-2-piperidone. An alternative to other polar aprotic solvents, it demonstrates excellent solvency, low toxicity, and lower volatility than N-methyl pyrrolidone and other high-performance solvents. It is water-miscible and biodegradable, an important consideration in an environmentally sensitive industry.
Moreover, DMPD has low metal content. DuPont specification sheets say it contains only about 50 ppb chrome, iron, potassium, sodium, tin, and zinc. Most other metal impurities (aluminum, cobalt, copper, magnesium, manganese, nickel, and lead) are only 20 ppb.
It provides enough solvency, either alone or when combined with other solvents, to apply, remove, or clean up a broad range of polymers and elastomers. These include acrylics, epoxies, polyesters, vinyl copolymers, polyvinyl butyral (Formvar), polyvinylidene fluoride (Kynar), ABS, polyimide, polystyrene, polyethersulfone, and fluoropolymers. It appears a good cleanup solvent to remove unsaturated polyester resins from tools used to make glass-reinforced composites and cultured marble.
It is also compatible with a wide range of elastomers.
DMPD-based formulations strip alkyd enamel, vinyl-acrylic, and epoxy-based paints, through some may require a second application. The new solvent also shows outstanding performance in cleaning and degreasing metals. A 10-min immersion in DMPD at 77° F removes 99% of used motor oil and 63% of calcium grease (though only 12% of the petroleum jelly) from a metal part. DuPont also sees potential uses in synthesis of polyimides, polyamide-imides, and polyethersulfones.
Market Development
"Having a company with Kyzen's qualifications on board will accelerate product development and testing of downstream semiconductor cleaning products," says DuPont Xolvone DMPD development manager Charles Perilloux. "Coupling Kyzen's technical expertise and its aggressive sales and marketing arm should make this relationship beneficial for all parties."
"Since we are known as a solution-oriented company that brings value-added products and processes to our customers, the addition of Xolvone(TM) DMPD to our technology base provides another avenue for new higher performance products that address new and existing applications for both existing and future customers," says Kyzen president/CEO Kyle J. Doyel. He expects Kyzen to continue to expand its product line.
For more information: Charles Perilloux, Xolvone DMPD Development Manager, Bldg. 568, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Sabine River Works, FM 1006, Orange, TX 77630. Phone: 409-886- 6409. Fax: 409-886-6264.
Or: Kyzen Corp., 430 Harding Industrial Dr., Nashville, TN 37211. Phone: 615-831-0888. Fax: 615-831-0889.
By Alan S. Brown