The key difference between chlorinated and non chlorinated brake cleaner is that chlorinated brake cleaners have chlorinated solvents, whereas non chlorinated brake cleaners do not have chlorinated solvents in their molecular structure.
Brake cleaners are formulations that give us an easy way to remove dust and deposits that inevitably occur on brakes. They also reduce harmful effects and airborne pollutants. These are specifically formulated to efficiently dissolve brake deposit residue and grease, which are carried away as runoff. These compounds often use organochlorides such as tetrachloroethylene and dichloromethane as ingredients. Earlier, 1,1,1-trichloroethane was used as the main ingredient, but due to its ozone-depleting ability, it has been banned from use.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Chlorinated Brake Cleaner
3. What is Non Chlorinated Brake Cleaner
4. Chlorinated vs Non Chlorinated Brake Cleaner in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Chlorinated vs Non Chlorinated Brake Cleaner
What is Chlorinated Brake Cleaner?
Chlorinated brake cleaners are formulations consisting of chlorinated solvents at their molecular level. They are the most commonly used form of brake cleaners. They have been in use for a long time despite the ban on the main ingredients of this formulation. This substance contains chlorinated atoms or solvents within the molecular structure.
The chlorinated components of this brake cleaner variety can boost the solvent properties of the product. The common chlorinated solvents used in chlorinated brake cleaners include perchloroethylene known as tetrachloroethylene and methylene chloride. These solvents are non-flammable and are extremely fast drying. They also provide the best cleaning for brake parts.
Chlorinated brake cleaners are often marketed as non-flammable formulations where the major ingredients are organochlorides such as tetrachloroethylene and dichloromethane. Earlier, 1,1,1-trichloroethane was used as the main ingredient, but due to its ozone-depleting ability, it was banned from use. Chlorinated brake cleaners are also toxic and can cause to the human nervous system and respiratory system. Chlorinated brake cleaners with tetrachloroethylene can decompose into phosgene and hydrogen chloride upon exposure to high temperatures or strong UV light. These are extremely dangerous to health if inhaled. This toxicity is another reason for its ban.
What is Non-Chlorinated Brake Cleaner?
Non-chlorinated brake cleaners are formulations that do not contain chlorinated solvents in the molecular structure. However, these formulations can still be not safe or non-environmental friendly. This is because the ingredients used instead of chlorinated solvents are highly toxic. Moreover, compared to chlorinated brake cleaners, these non-chlorinated brake cleaners are not fast-drying cleaners, and these solvents are flammable as well.
These formulations are safe to use on plastic parts and all brake parts, including rotors, drums, calipers, cylinders, springs, and other related parts. Non-chlorinated brake cleaners typically use hydrocarbon as the main component, and it can either be a low-boiling aliphatic compound or a higher-boiling hydrocarbon mixture. Moreover, aromatic compounds such as benzene, toluene, and xylene are also used. These hydrocarbon compounds are usually made from the hydrogenation of naphtha.
What is the Difference Between Chlorinated and Non Chlorinated Brake Cleaner?
The key difference between chlorinated and non chlorinated brake cleaner is that chlorinated brake cleaners have chlorinated solvents, whereas non chlorinated brake cleaners do not have chlorinated solvents in their molecular structure. Moreover, chlorinated brake cleaners contain organochlorides such as tetrachloroethylene and dichloromethane as their main ingredients, while non chlorinated brake cleaners contain hydrocarbons, aromatics, etc.
The following table summarizes the difference between chlorinated and non chlorinated brake cleaner.
Summary – Chlorinated vs Non Chlorinated Brake Cleaner
Brake cleaners are formulations having degreasing and cleaning applications of metal parts or metallic surfaces. These are useful in removing oils, fats, resins, tar, and dust in the automotive sector. The key difference between chlorinated and non chlorinated brake cleaner is that chlorinated brake cleaners have chlorinated solvents, whereas non chlorinated brake cleaners do not have chlorinated solvents in their molecular structure.
Reference:
1. Chemtooler. “Chlorinated Brake Cleaners.” Berryman Products, 23 Aug. 2018.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Cleaning oil off new rotors. Replacing front rotors on 2005 Nissan Titan.” By slworking2 (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) via Flickr