MIL-PRF-680 Performance Specifications - Degreaser

The standard “MIL-PRF-680 Performance specifications – Degreaser” developed by the United States Department of Defense describes requirements for four types of petroleum distillate degreaser solvents. The different types include:

• Stoddard solvent
• 141 degrees Fahrenheit solvent (60,56 degrees)
• 200 degrees Fahrenheit solvent (93,33 degrees)
• 141 Fahrenheit d-limonene mixed solvent

These solvents are used to degrease machine parts in equipment maintenance.

Degreasing solvents are of the following types:

• Type I - Low flash point (Stoddard solvent)
• Type II - High flash point
• Type III - Very high flash point (200 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Type IV - High flash point with citrus odor

The requirements in the MIL-PRF-680 standard are specified as follows:

• Primary item: Unless otherwise specified, a sample shall be subjected to primary item inspection in accordance with this standard.
• Materials: The hydrocarbon solvent shall be a pure or recycled solvent obtained from petroleum distillates, the fraction obtained from recovery and re-refining processes, or a mixture of these fractions. d-limonene and hydrocarbon blended solvent is permitted as a Type IV solvent. The resulting solvent shall be manufactured as necessary to meet the specified requirements.
• Appearance: The solvent should be clear and free from suspended matter and undissolved water when observed at a temperature between 15,6 degrees and 25,6 degrees.
• Toxicity: The solvent should not have an adverse effect on human health when used as intended. A material safety data sheet should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the FED-STD-313 standard. The solvent should also comply with the 29 CFR 1910.1200 standard.
• Carcinogenicity: The solvent should not contain any chemicals listed as carcinogenic. A concentration of 0,1 percent or more by weight or volume of any carcinogenic component in the solvent is considered the presence of a carcinogen in the solvent.
• Physical and chemical property requirements: Solvents must comply with the physical and chemical requirements in the table when tested as specified in the standard.

This standard supplement provides information on the cleaning power of solvents using the US Army soil test method. This test method is used to determine the cleaning power of solvents that have been exposed to contaminated mechanical parts. This supplement is a mandatory part of the MIL-PRF-680 standard. The information contained herein is for guidance purposes only.

When using this test method, a small amount of grease applied to a steel coupon is immersed in the test solvent and then placed in an ultrasonic cleaner held at 50 degrees. The grease is dissolved by the solvent and removed from the steel coupon by the emission of sound. The solvent power is determined by the time it takes to completely remove the grease from the coupon.

This test method measures the solvency of all types of cleaners and differentiates their cleaning power.

The equipment used in these tests includes:

• Ultrasonic cleaner.
• Beaker (200 ml).
• Test specimen assembly: A 0,081 cm thick, 2,5 cm square steel metal square with a holding wire. This specimen is used in Method 791 of “FED-STD-5308.7D Federal standard: Method for testing lubricants, liquid fuels, and related products.”
• Timer.
• Thermometer with 50 degree range.

Toluene is used as a material when performing the tests. Toluene must be at least 99 percent pure. This material is flammable and its vapor is harmful.

When performing the tests, the test fixture is washed with toluene until no soil or oil film remains. The test fixture is dried using a laboratory air system. The test fixture is weighed to the nearest 0,1 g. Approximately 0,4 g of MIL-PRF-10924 standard grease is applied evenly to both sides of the metal coupon. The test fixture is placed in a beaker using a holder. Test solvent is added to the beaker until the test fixture is completely immersed.

The beaker is placed in an ultrasonic cleaner with a water temperature of 50 degrees. The test is started using a timer. The test setup is observed until all grease is removed from the metal coupon. The time is recorded in minutes. If after 100 minutes there is still grease remaining on the metal coupon, the test is terminated immediately and the test time is recorded as 100 minutes.

This test is repeated two more times in the same manner.

Our organization has a strong staff that closely follows the developments in the world in the field of science and technology and constantly improves itself. Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies provided for businesses in various sectors, there are also test services in accordance with the "MIL-PRF-680 Performance characteristics - Oil solvent" standard.