Electronic Applications
Flutec liquids exhibit a unique combination of properties that makes them extremely useful materials for a wide range of electronics cooling, heating and testing processes.
Their properties include:
- Very high electrical resistivity (typically 1015 Ω cm).
- Very high dielectric strength (typically 20 kV/mm @ 50 Hz).
- Thermally and chemically stable.
- No residue on evaporation.
- Excellent materials compatibility.
- Essentially non-toxic.
- Non-flammable.
- Very low surface tension.
- Low viscosity.
- Colourless, odourless.
Direct Contact Cooling / Submersion Cooling / Heat Transfer
Flutec fluids are excellent direct contact coolants. They allow electronic assemblies to be immersed within the fluid, and the liquid to circulate in direct contact with the hot components. Heat is transferred to the liquid very efficiently because of its relatively high thermal conductivity, and, of course, because the liquid is in direct contact with the chip. The hot liquid can be cooled using suitable heat exchange equipment.
In applications where energy flux is particularly high, Flutec fluids allow heat to be removed by evaporation.
Flutec fluids are used to cool military electronics, computers and power components where their exceptional properties have enabled a size reduction in equipment not previously attainable.
Dielectric Fluids
Flutec fluids replace the use of oil in applications requiring separation of high voltage components; they have high dielectric breakdown strength but unlike oil are not flammable. They are 'self healing'; discharges tend to be quenched and tracking does not occur. In additional they provide cooling. Flutec fluids have low surface tension, very low water solubility (water will float on the surface); they are non-corrosive and non-toxic.
Heat Transfer
Not just useful as coolants, Flutec fluids are excellent in high temperature applications too! They are thermally stable and can be heated up to 400°C. This enables them to be used in heating applications, as well as heat recovery systems such as organic Rankine cycle engines.
Gross Leak Detection
Flutec® fluids have been approved test-fluids for gross leak detection under U.S. MIL STD for a number of years. Full details are available in MIL Standards 883-1014, 750-1071 and 202-112 for which Flutec fluids are approved products.
Liquid Burn-in Testing
Flutec PP10 is ideal for liquid burn-in testing because of its high thermal stability, low toxicity, excellent dielectric characteristics and wide-ranging compatibility.
The test requires the thermally conductive fluid to be maintained at elevated temperatures for prolonged periods. Extensive testing of Flutec liquids at such temperatures has shown no detectable generation of toxic or corrosive products.
Thermal Shock Testing
Flutec fluids are approved in US Mil Standards 883-1011, 750-1056 and 202-107 for thermal shock testing. Commonly encountered temperature extremes are -55°C / -65°C (PP1 or PP3) and 125°C / 200°C PP9, PP10 and PP11.
Cleaning
Flutec fluids have sufficient solubility of oils to remove traces from electronic components. Their high densities and low surface tensions make them effective for the physical removal of particulate matter by spray or jet cleaning. Alternatively Flutec fluids can be used in conjunction with solvents such as alcohol to form the basis of a cleaning method in which the fluid acts as a heat transfer agent, to provide a non-flammable vapour blanket, reducing the flash point of the solvent.
Solvent for lubricant deposition
Flutec liquids will dissolve and deposit a variety of high performance lubricants on a range of substrates to meet the stringent demands of hard disc drive manufacturers and similar industries. Flutec PP1, the solvent of choice, is analysed to ensure the absence of unwanted ions, metals and non-volatile residues.