How Are You Cleaning Krytox?

Will alcohol remove Krytox easily?
That’s a good question. Krytox is not soluble in alcohol. It will basically wet it a little, then you can take a mechanical brush and if you apply alcohol, you can move it around a little bit. Is it going to clean it all the way off? The answer is no. It’ll take a lot of scrubbing and flushing. It’s not the desired process and most people do not use alcohol for that reason.

What does “wetting index” mean?
Wetting index is basically a chemical feature of certain fluids. Solvents stay engaged with the product much longer. Therefore, you have a higher wetting index, and it stays in contact with the surface. Water is a poor wetting index because it sheets off residues quicky, if you have ever waxed a car then throw water on it, you’ll know what I’m referring to. However, if you put soap on the waxed car, the soap will stay longer because it attacks the soils. The wetting index is better because it keeps the solvent in contact with the contaminants for the removal and it also makes it easier to fit different configurations or custom components.

Does Krytox become more difficult to clean as it ages?
It does age some. Although it stays fairly pliable, it does set up and dry some of the components. The floriated parts especially, tend to evaporate off so it becomes stiff, but it can be removed.

How long is a typical cleaning cycle in a vacuum degreaser?
I wish I could give you an exact answer. When it’s in a vacuum degreaser, it depends on the size of the load, amount of Krytox that’s on the components, and the component configuration. Also, if you take it down into the boiling sump, it may take longer for bigger parts then it does for smaller parts. It depends on how they’re racked where the soften can get to them easily and there’s not a tight configuration. The boiling solvent side is typically the longest and then the rinse side is much quicker. Since the parts have been cleaned and there is only a small amount of residue on the rinse side.

Is Krytox resistant of typical fuels?
It is. That is why it is used in aviation, aerospace, and even automotive. Krytox is resistant to most harsh chemicals, that’s why the inertness of the product makes it great for sealants. It is somewhat waterproof; most the chemicals will not affect it. For fuel lines, it is extremely good with the temperature ranges. It can handle high or low temperatures resulting in things expanding or contracting. It’s also an excellent lubrication and grease for that.