Shizuoka University Develops Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Technology to Eliminate Chemical Use

Copyright Shizuoka University

Assistant Professor Toshiyuki Sanada at Shizuoka University's Department of Mechanical Engineering announced on January 29, 2010, that a new technology for industrial cleaning has been developed to eliminate the need for chemical solution usage. The technology, which uses only steam and water to clean, is part of the industrial technology research project subsidized by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

Its innovative nozzle configuration and design enables control of the steam jet. Meanwhile, the condensation effect of the steam helps wet even the finest microscopic surface, which produces remarkable cleaning results (eliminates nanoscale particles). Even when chemical solutions are required for cleaning, the technology allows an ultralow volume of chemical (several hundred ppm) to achieve sufficient cleaning results, thereby significantly reducing the environmental impact.

In addition to cleaning products such as semiconductor devices, printed circuit boards, optical lenses, and large pieces of glass, this technology is expected to be applied to cleaning in all fields, including medical equipment, food, and household items.
Going forward, the university plans to further evaluate the effectiveness of the technology in cleaning a wide range of products and to proceed with early commercialization. At the same time, the university hopes to work with companies and organizations with a need to reduce their usage of chemical solutions by obtaining feedback and conducting joint projects.

Toshiyuki Sanada's Homepage
http://www.ipc.shizuoka.ac.jp/~ttsanad/english.html

Posted: 2010/04/06 06:00:15 AM