Azeotrope-like compositions of 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane, dichlorotrifluoroethane and a mono- or di-chlorinated C.sub.2 or C.sub.3 alk

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to azeotrope-like mixtures of 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane, dichlorotrifluoroethane and a mono- or di-chlorinated C.sub.2 or C.sub.3 alkane. These mixtures are useful in a variety of vapor degreasing, cold cleaning and solvent cleaning applications including defluxing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Co-pending commonly assigned application Ser. No.: 362,294, filed June 6, 1989, discloses azeotrope-like mixtures of 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane and 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fluorocarbon based solvents have been used extensively for the degreasing and otherwise cleaning of solid surfaces, especially intricate parts and difficult to remove soils.

In its simplest form, vapor degreasing or solvent cleaning consists of exposing a room temperature object to be cleaned to the vapors of a boiling solvent. Vapors condensing on the object provide clean distilled solvent to wash away grease or other contaminants. Final evaporation of solvent from the object leaves the object free of residue. This is contrasted with liquid solvents which leave deposits on the object after rinsing.

A vapor degreaser is used for difficult to remove soils where elevated temperature is necessary to improve the cleaning action of the solvent, or for large volume assembly line operations where the cleaning of metal parts and assemblies must be done efficiently. The conventional operation of a vapor degreaser consists of immersing the part to be cleaned in a sump of boiling solvent which removes the bulk of the soil, thereafter immersing the part in a sump containing freshly distilled solvent near room temperature, and finallY exposing the part to solvent vapors over the boiling sump which condense on the cleaned part. In addition, the part can also be sprayed with distilled solvent before final rinsing.

Vapor degreasers suitable in the above-described operations are well known in the art. For example, Sherliker et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 3,085,918 disclose such suitable vapor degreasers comprising a boiling sump, a clean sump, a water separator, and other ancillary equipment.

Cold cleaning is another application where a number of solvents are used. In most cold cleaning applications the soiled part is either immersed in the fluid or wiped with cloths soaked in solvents and allowed to air dry.

Recently, nontoxic nonflammable fluorocarbon solvents like trichlorotrifluoroethane have been used extensively in degreasing applications and other solvent cleaning applications. Trichlorotrifluoroethane has been found to have satisfactory solvent power for greases, oils, waxes and the like. It has therefore found widespread use for cleaning electric motors, compressors, heavy metal parts, delicate precision metal parts, printed circuit boards, gyroscopes, guidance systems, aerospace and missile hardware, aluminum parts, etc.

The art has looked towards azeotropic compositions having fluorocarbon components because the fluorocarbon components contribute additionally desired characteristics, such as polar functionality, increased solvency power, and stabilizers. Azeotropic compositions are desired because they do not fractionate upon boiling. This behavior is desirable because in the previously described vapor degreasing equipment with which these solvents are employed, redistilled material is generated for final rinse-cleaning. Thus, the vapor degreasing system acts as a still. Therefore, unless the solvent composition is essentially constant boiling, fractionation will occur and undesirable solvent distribution may act to upset the cleaning and safety of processing. For example, preferential evaporation of the more volatile components of the solvent mixtures would result in mixtures with changed compositions which may have less desirable properties, such as lower solvency towards soils, less inertness towards metal, plastic or elastomer components, and increased flammability and toxicity.

The art is continually seeking new fluorocarbon based azeotropic mixtures which offer alternatives for new and special applications for vapor degreasing and other industrial cleaning applications. Currently, fluorocarbon based azeotrope-like mixtures are of particular interest because they are considered stratospherically safe substitutes for presently used fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons. The latter have been implicated in causing environmental problems associated with the depletion of the earth's protective ozone layer. Mathematical models have substantiated that hydrochlorofluorocarbons, like 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) and dichlorotrifluoroethane (HCFC-123 or HCFC-123a), have a much lower ozone depletion potential and global warming potential than the fully halogenated species.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide novel environmentally acceptable azeotropic compositions useful in a variety of industrial cleaning applications.

It is another object of the invention to provide azeotrope-like compositions which are liquid at room temperature and which will not fractionate under conditions of use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to novel azeotrope-like compositions which are useful in a variety of industrial cleaning applications. Specifically, the invention relates to compositions based on 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane and dichlorotrifluoroethane which are essentially constant boiling, evironmentally acceptable, non-fractionating, and which remain liquid at room temperature.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, novel azeotrope-like compositions have been discovered comprising 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane(HCFC-141b), dichlorotrifluoroethane and a mono- or di-chlorinated C.sub.2 or C.sub.3 alkane wherein said compositions with 1-chloropropane or 2-chloropropane boil at about 31.9.degree. C. .+-. about 0.7.degree. C. at 760 mm Hg and said compositions with 1,1-dichloroethane boil at about 31.4.degree. C. .+-. about 0.7.degree. C. at 760 mm Hg. Dichlorotrifluoroethane exists in three isomeric forms, 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123), 1,2-dichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123a), and 1,1-dichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123b). For purposes of this invention, dichlorotrifluoroethane will refer only to the HCFC-123 and HCFC-123a isomers. Each of these isomers exhibits the properties of the invention. Hence, either isomer may be used as well as mixtures of the isomers in any proportion. When the chlorinated alkane is a mono-chlorinated propane, either isomer or a mixture of the isomers may be used in any proportion.

HCFC-141b has a low ozone depletion potential. HCFC-123 has a still lower ozone depletion potential. When these components are combined in effective amounts with the chlorinated alkane component of the invention a very low ozone depleting composition results HCFC-141b and HCFC-123 also suppress the flammability of the chlorinated alkane component when used in effective amounts. The chlorinated alkane component of the invention has very good solvent properties. Therefore, when HCFC-141b, HCFC-123, and the chlorinated alkane component of the invention are combined in effective amounts, a novel, environmentally acceptable, nonflammable cleaning solvent results.

When 1-chloropropane is the mono- or di-chlorinated C.sub.2 or C.sub.3 alkane, the azeotrope-like compositions of the invention comprise from about 25 to about 99 weight percent HCFC-141b, from about 1 to about 72 weight percent dichlorotrifluoroethane, and from about 0.1 to about 3 weight percent 1-chloropropane and boil at about 31.9.degree. C. at 760 mm Hg.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention using 1-chloropropane, the azeotrope-like compositions of the invention comprise from about 63 to about 99 weight percent HCFC-141b, from about 1 to about 35 weight percent dichlorotrifluoroethane, and from about 0.1 to about 2 weight percent 1-chloropropane and boil at about 31.9.degree. C. at 760 mm Hg.

In a more preferred embodiment of the invention including 1-chloropropane, the azeotrope-like compositions comprise from about 66 to about 99 weight percent HCFC-141b, from about 1 to about 32 weight percent dichlorotrifluoroethane and from about 0.1 to about 2 weight percent 1-chloropropane and which boil at about 31.9.degree. C. at 760 mm Hg.

In the most preferred embodiment of the invention containing 1-chloropropane, the azeotrope-like compositions comprise from about 67 to about 99 weight percent HCFC-141b, from about 1 to about 32 weight percent dichlorotrifluoroethane and from about 0.1 to about 1 weight percent of 1-chloropropane and which boil at about 31.9.degree. C. at 760 mm Hg.

When 2-chloropropane is the mono- or dichlorinated C.sub.2 or C.sub.3 alkane, the azeotrope-like compositions of the invention comprise from about 25 to about 99 weight percent HCFC-141b, from about 1 to about 70 weight percent dichlorotrifluoroethane, and from about 0.25 to about 5 weight percent 2-chloropropane and boil at about 31.9.degree. C. at 760 mm Hg.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention using 2-chloropropane, the azeotrope-like compositions of the invention comprise from about 60 to about 99 weight percent HCFC-141b, from about 1 to about 35 weight percent dichlorotrifluoroethane, and from about 0.1 to about 5 weight percent 2-chloropropane and boil at about 31.9.degree. C. at 760 mm Hg.

In a more preferred embodiment of the invention including 2-chloropropane, the azeotrope-like compositions comprise from about 65 to about 99 weight percent HCFC-141b, from about 1 to about 31 weight percent dichlorotrifluoroethane and from about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent 2-chloropropane and boil at about 31.9.degree. C. at 760 mm Hg.

In the most preferred embodiment of the invention containing 2-chloropropane, the azeotrope-like compositions of the invention comprise from about 70 to about 87 weight percent HCFC-141b, from about 12 to about 28 weight percent dichlorotrifluoroethane, and from about 0.4 to about 2 weight percent 2-chloropropane and boil at about 31.9.degree. C. at 760 mm Hg.

When 1,1-dichloroethane is the mono or dichlorinated C.sub.2 or C.sub.3 alkane, the azeotrope-like compositions of the invention comprise from about 25 to about 99 weight percent HCFC-141b, from about 1 to about 72 weight percent dichlorotrifluoroethane, and from about 0.1 to about 3 weight percent 1,1-dichloroethane and boil at about 31.4.degree. C. at 760 mm Hg.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention using 1,1-dichloroethane, the azeotrope-like compositions of the invention comprise from about 63 to about 99 weight percent HCFC-141b, from about 1 to about 35 weight percent dichlorotrifluoroethane, and from about 0.1 to about 2 weight percent 1,1-dichloroethane and boil at about 31.4.degree. C. at 760 mm Hg.

In a more preferred embodiment including 1,1-dichloroethane, the azeotrope-like compositions of the invention comprise from about 68 to about 98 weight percent HCFC-141b, from about 2 to about 30 weight percent dichlorotrifluoroethane, and from about 0.1 to about 2 weight percent 1,1-dichloroethane and boil at about 31.4.degree. C. at 760 mm Hg.

In the most preferred embodiment of the invention containing 1,1-dichloroethane, the azeotrope-like compositions of the invention comprise from about 69 to about 97 weight percent HCFC-141b, from about 3 to about 30 weight percent dichlorotrifluoroethane, and from about 0.1 to about 1 weight percent 1,1-dichloroethane and boil at about 31.4.degree. C. at 760 mm Hg.

The compositions of the invention containing a mixture of HCFC-123 and HCFC-123a behave like azeotropic compositions because the separate ternary azeotrope-like compositions containing HCFC-123 and HCFC-123a have boiling points so close to one another that they are indistinguishable for practical purposes.

It is known in the art that the use of more active solvents, like lower alkanols in combination with certain halocarbons such as trichlorotrifluoroethane, may have the undesirable result of attacking reactive metals such as zinc and aluminum, as well as certain aluminum alloys and chromate coatings such as are commonly employed in circuit board assemblies. The art has recognized that certain stabilizers, such as nitromethane, are effective in preventing metal attack by chlorofluorocarbon mixtures with such alkanols. Other candidate stabilizers for this purpose, such as disclosed in the literature, are secondary and tertiary amines, olefins and cycloolefins, alkylene oxides, sulfoxides, sulfones, nitrites and nitriles, and acetylenic alcohols or ethers. It is contemplated that such stabilizers as well as other additives may be combined with the azeotrope-like compositions of this invention.

The precise or true azeotrope compositions have not been determined but have been ascertained to be within the indicated ranges. Regardless of where the true azeotropes lie, all compositions within the indicated ranges, as well as certain compositions outside the indicated ranges, are azeotrope-like, as defined more particularly below.

It has been found that these azeotrope-like compositions are on the whole nonflammable liquids, i.e., exhibit no flash point when tested by the Tag Open Cup test method--ASTM D 1310-86.

From fundamental principles, the thermodynamic state of a fluid is defined by four variables: pressure, temperature, liquid composition and vapor composition, or P-T-X-Y, respectively. An azeotrope is a unique characteristic of a system of two or more components where X and Y are equal at the stated P and T. In practice, this means that the components of a mixture cannot be separated during distillation and therefore, are useful in vapor phase solvent cleaning as described above.

For the purpose of this discussion, by azeotrope-like composition is intended to mean that the composition behaves like a true azeotrope in terms of its constant boiling characteristics or tendency not to fractionate upon boiling or evaporation. Such composition may or may not be a true azeotrope. Thus, in such compositions, the composition of the vapor formed during boiling or evaporation is identical or substantially identical to the original liquid composition. Hence, during boiling or evaporation, the liquid composition, if it changes at all, changes only minimally. This is contrasted with non-azeotrope-like compositions in which the liquid composition changes substantially during boiling or evaporation.

Thus, one way to determine whether a candidate mixture is "azeotrope-like" within the meaning of this invention, is to distill a sample thereof under conditions (i.e. resolution--number of plates) which would be expected to separate the mixture into its components. If the mixture is non-azeotropic or non-azeotrope-like, the mixture will fractionate, with the lowest boiling component distilling off first, etc. If the mixture is azeotrope-like, some finite amount of a first distillation cut will be obtained which contains all of the mixture components and which is constant boiling or behaves as a single substance. This phenomenon cannot occur if the mixture is not azeotrope-like i.e., it is not part of an azeotropic system. If the degree of fractionation of the candidate mixture is unduly great, then a composition closer to the true azeotrope must be selected to minimize fractionation. Of course, upon distillation of an azeotrope-like composition such as in a vapor degreaser, the true azeotrope will form and tend to concentrate.

It follows from the above discussion that another characteristic of azeotrope-like compositions is that there is a range of compositions containing the same components in varying proportions which are azeotrope-like. All such compositions are intended to be covered by the term azeotrope-like as used herein. As an example, it is well known that at different pressures, the composition of a given azeotrope will vary at least slightly as does the boiling point of the composition. Thus, an azeotrope of A and B represents a unique type of relationship but with a variable composition depending on temperature and/or pressure. Accordingly, another way of defining azeotrope-like within the meaning of this invention is to state that such mixtures boil within about .+-.0.7.degree. C. (at 760 mm Hg) of the boiling point of the most preferred compositions disclosed herein. As is readily understood by persons skilled in the art, the boiling point of the azeotrope will vary with the pressure.

In the process embodiment of the invention, the azeotrope-like compositions of the invention may be used to clean solid surfaces by treating said surfaces with said compositions in any manner well known to the art such as by dipping or spraying or use of conventional degreasing apparatus.

The 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane, dichlorotrifluoroethane, 1- and 2-chloropropane, and 1,1-dichloroethane components of the invention are known materials. Preferably they should be used in sufficiently high purity so as to avoid the introduction of adverse influences upon the solvency properties or constant boiling properties of the system.

EXAMPLES 1-3

This set of examples further confirms the existence of the azeotropes between HCFC-141b, HCFC-123, and 2-chloropropane via the method of distillation They also illustrate that these mixtures do not fractionate during distillation.

A 5-plate Oldershaw distillation column with a cold water condensed automatic liquid dividing head was used for these examples. For Examples 1-3 the distillation column was charged with approximately 350 grams of mixture of HCFC-141b, HCFC-123 and 2-chloropropane which were heated under total reflux for about an hour to ensure equilibration. A reflux ratio of 3:1 was employed for this particular distillation. Approximately 50 percent of the original charges were collected in four approximately equivalent overhead fractions. The compositions of these fractions were analyzed using gas chromatrography. Table I shows the compositions of the starting materials. The averages of the distillate fractions and the overhead temperatures are quite constant within the uncertainty associated with determining the compositions, indicating that the mixtures are azeotrope-like.

TABLE I ______________________________________ STARTING MATERIAL (WT. %) 2-CHLORO- EXAMPLE HCFC-141b HCFC-123 PROPANE ______________________________________ 1 87.48 10.37 2.15 2 72.92 25.04 2.05 3 89.18 10.29 0.53 ______________________________________ DISTILLATE FRACTIONS (WT. %) 2-CHLORO- EXAMPLE HCFC-141b HCFC-123 PROPANE ______________________________________ 1 86.50 11.66 1.84 2 70.19 28.24 1.57 3 87.82 11.74 0.44 ______________________________________ BOILING POINT BAROMETRIC CORRECTED BOILING PRESSURE TO 760 mm Hg EXAMPLE POINT (.degree.C.) (mm Hg) (.degree.C.) ______________________________________ 1 30.8 745.7 31.4 2 31.4 747.3 31.9 3 31.8 745.7 32.4 Mean: 31.9 .+-. 0.5.degree. C. ______________________________________

Examples 1-3 illustrate that HCFC-141b, HCFC-123 and 2-chloropropane form a constant boiling mixture.

EXAMPLES 4-6

The azeotropic properties of HCFC-141b, HCFC-123a and 2-chloropropane are studied by repeating the experiment outlined in Examples 1-3. The results obtained are substantially the same as those for HCFC-123, i.e., HCFC-141b, HCFC-123a , and 2-chloropropane form a constant boiling mixture.

EXAMPLES 7-9

The azeotropic properties of HCFC-141b, a mixture of HCFC-123 and 123a, and 2-chloropropane are studied by repeating the experiment outlined in Examples 1-3. The results obtained are substantially the same as those for HCFC-123, i.e., HCFC-141b, a mixture of HCFC-123 and 123a and 2-chloropropane form a constant boiling mixture.

EXAMPLES 10-13

This set of examples further confirms the existence of azeotropes between HCFC-141b, HCFC-123 and 1-chloropropane via the method of distillation. They also illustrate that these mixtures do not fractionate during distillation.

Examples 10-13 were performed under the same conditions outlined in Examples 1-3 above.

TABLE II ______________________________________ STARTING MATERIAL (WT. %) HCFC- HCFC- 1-CHLORO- NITRO- EXAMPLE 141b 123 PROPANE METHANE ______________________________________ 10 71.98 25.47 2.25 0.30 11 84.25 13.27 2.18 0.29 12 89.26 10.17 0.58 -- 13 96.28 2.19 1.53 -- ______________________________________ DISTILLATE FRACTIONS (WT. %) HCFC- HCFC- 1-CHLORO- NITRO- EXAMPLE 141b 123 PROPANE METHANE ______________________________________ 10 70.63 28.63 0.75 -- 11 83.64 15.68 0.68 -- 12 88.17 11.55 0.29 -- 13 96.83 2.54 0.63 -- ______________________________________ BOILING POINT BAROMETRIC CORRECTED BOILING PRESSURE TO 760 mm Hg EXAMPLE POINT (.degree.C.) (mm Hg) (.degree.C.) ______________________________________ 10 31.0 745.0 31.6 11 30.5 741.0 31.3 12 31.3 750.3 31.7 13 32.4 750.3 32.8 Mean: 31.9 .+-. 0.7.degree. C. ______________________________________

Examples 10-13 illustrate that HCFC-141b, HCFC-123 and 1-chloropropane form a constant boiling mixture.

EXAMPLES 14-17

The azeotropic properties of HCFC-141b, HCFC-123a and 1-chloropropane are studied by repeating the experiment outlined in Examples 1-3 above. The results obtained are substantially the same as those for HCFC-123, i.e., HCFC-141b, HCFC-123a, and 1-chloropropane form a constant boiling mixture.

EXAMPLES 18-21

The azeotropic properties of HCFC-141b, a mixture of HCFC-123 and 123a, and 1-chloropropane are studied by repeating the experiment outlined in Examples 1-3 above. The results obtained are substantially the same as those for HCFC-123, i.e., HCFC-141b, a mixture of HCFC-123/123a, and 1-chloropropane form a constant boiling mixture.

EXAMPLE 22

The azeotropic properties of HCFC-141b, HCFC-123 and 1,1-dichloroethane were studied by repeating the experiment outlined in Examples 1-3 above except that the reflux ratio in the distillation was kept at 5:1.

TABLE III ______________________________________ STARTING MATERIAL (WT. %) 1-1,-DI- CHLORO- EXAMPLE HCFC-141b HCFC-123 ETHANE ______________________________________ 22 73.81 25.15 1.03 ______________________________________ DISTILLATE FRACTION (WT. %) 1-1,-DI- CHLORO- EXAMPLE HCFC-141b HCFC-123 ETHANE ______________________________________ 22 68.51 30.35 0.14 ______________________________________ BOILING POINT BAROMETRIC CORRECTED BOILING PRESSURE TO 760 mm Hg EXAMPLE POINT (.degree.C.) (mm Hg) (.degree.C.) ______________________________________ 22 31.1 747.0 31.4 ______________________________________

Example 22 illustrates that HCFC-141b, HCFC-123 and 1,1-dichloroethane form a constant boiling mixture.

EXAMPLE 23

The azeotropic properties of HCFC-141b, HCFC-123a and 1,1-dichloroethane are studied by repeating the experiment outlined in Examples 1-3 above. The results obtained are substantially the same as those for HCFC-123, i.e., HCFC-141b, HCFC-123a and 1,1-dichloroethane form a constant boiling mixture.

EXAMPLE 24

The azeotropic properties of HCFC-141b, a mixture of HCFC-123/123a, and 1,1-dichloroethane are studied by repeating the experiment outlined in Examples 1-3 above. The results obtained are substantially the same as those for HCFC-123, i.e., HCFC-141b, a mixture of HCFC-123/123a and 1,1-dichloroethane form a constant boiling mixture.

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