RE: Alternative Paint Stripper -Reply

["Callahan, Mike" <Mike.Callahan@jacobs.com>]

Hi Kenny,

I would be very careful about recommending Borothene.  I believe the
company marketing it got into a lot of trouble with the EPA and the SNAP
program over the submittal of unsupported data.  This material also, I
believe, has an ODP close to TCA.  You would also need to check into its
performance as a dip tank stripper.  I believe it is being sold as a
retrofit for vapor degreasers, an operation where you don't wash the
parts with water afterwards.  Paint stripping typically employs a water
wash step.  I doubt Borothene is readily biodegradable.

One potential substitute for MeCl is a mixture of NMP and DBE.  It
performs quite well and the material is biodegradable.  Some companies
also offer a recycling service if the volume is large enough.  There are
some toxicity concerns over NMP, and the facility would need to weigh
the pros and cons of switching.  Good engineering controls and proper
hygiene practices are a must regardless of the chemical employed.

Mike.callahan@jacobs.com
 ----------
From: KENNY D STEWARD
To: p2tech@great-lakes.net
Subject: Alternative Paint Stripper -Reply
Date: Wednesday, February 05, 1997 9:57AM


Kelly,

You should contact Kevin Brown of my staff.  He has been working with
a relatively new chemical - Borothene - and has found it very effective
in
removing paints and stencils.  Additional tests with other materials
including polyurethane foam has also been performed.  Feel free to
contact him at (806) 477-5942.  Or send an e-mail to
kbrown@pantex.com.

Thanks and good luck!


Kenny Steward
Pollution Prevention
Pantex Plant

>>> "Kelly Mularie"
<kmularie%lan828.ehsg.saic.com@internet.pantex.com> 02/05/97
10:55am >>>
Hello!

I need help in identifying an environmentally-friendly
alternative chemical stripper to methylene chloride being used as a
dip-tank (i.e., immersion-style) paint stripper in an industrial
operation.  The alternative chemical stripper needs to be able to
strip epoxy primer and polyurethane paint off of steel and aluminum
parts.  Non-chemical alternatives such as physical paint removers
(such as bead blasting) are unfortunately not an option given the
facility. Only alternative chemical, immersion-style strippers will
work.   Ideally, I would like to find a chemical stripper that does
not require heating its dip tank.  Any ideas?

Thanks,
Kelly Mularie
kmularie@lan828.ehsg.saic.com
(703) 318-4643