3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids & Solvents

What are 3M™ Novec™ Fluids?

3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids are non-flammable fluids used in a wide variety of industrial applications, including vapor degreasing, solvent cleaning of industrial parts, and thermal management of electronics. Based on 3M™’s proprietary segregated hydrofluoroether (HFE) chemistry, 3M™ Novec™ fluids combine proven performance with outstanding environmental and safety features.

What is HFE chemistry?

HFE stands for hydrofluoroether. Originally developed by 3M™, it is a complex organic cleaning solvent that does not occur naturally in the environment. HFE was developed as an alternative to ozone-depleting solvents such as CFCs, HFCs, HCFCs, and PFCs. At room temperature its visual appearance is identical to water. Like water, 3M™ Novec™ fluid is colorless, odorless and tasteless. The high molecular weight of HFE means that it remains in the atmosphere for less than two weeks, and Novec™ fluids have zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) compared to alternative chemicals.

The HFE chemistry in 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids also offers low GWP (global warming potential), so there is no need to compromise sustainability and safety for excellent performance in solvent cleaning and coating applications with 3M™ Novec™ fluids.

3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids are available from authorized distributor Best Technology in a variety of formulations, for light-duty to heavy-duty cleaning performance. “Neat” or pure Novec™ fluid formulations are 100% HFEs. Examples of neat 3M™ Novec™ fluid products include Novec™ 7100, Novec™ 7200 or Novec™ 7300.

Other formulations include additives to the HFE chemistry for better cleaning performance. The most common additive to Novec™ fluid formulations is trans-1,2-dichloroethylene (t-DCE). Examples of Novec™ products with t-DCE include Novec™ 73DE and Novec™ 72DA. The Novec™ fluid 72DA also includes 2% isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) 3M™ Novec™. NOTE: t-DCE is not to be confused with the harmful TCE (trichloroethylene).

3M™ Novec™ fluids are engineered for:

• High margin of safety for workers
• Zero ozone depletion potential (ODP)
• Low global warming potential (GWP)
• Excellent cleaning performance

While 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids were developed as cleaning solvents, their use has broadened to other application categories. Application categories include:

• Solvent Cleaning / Precision Cleaning and Vapor Degreasing
• Coatings and Lubricants
• Thermal Management / Heat Transfer

Application: Solvent Cleaning / Precision Cleaning and Vapor Degreasing

3M™ Novec™ fluid is ideal for many precision cleaning applications where high purity and low contamination levels on finished parts are critical, particularly in medical devices, aerospace materials, optical components and electronics. 3M™ Novec™ fluids demonstrate excellent materials compatibility in a wide variety of substrates, and can clean a wide range of soils.

Which 3M™ Novec™ fluid is right for you?

For an in-depth guide to solvent cleaning including materials compatibility and formulation specs, please see Solvent Cleaning with 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids.

Here are the 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids that Best Technology stocks for precision cleaning and vapor degreasing:

3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids for Solvent Cleaning

Application: Coatings and Lubricants

When creating new coatings, cleaners and lubricants, 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids offer an outstanding combination of performance, safety and environmental properties. With its excellent materials compatibility, Novec™ fluids provide formulating freedom for creating the perfect mix.

For medical uses, 3M™ Novec™ fluids can disperse a wide variety of coatings, including silicone, PTFE and heparin. Specific deposition applications include hypodermic needles, surgical and cutting blades, blood bags, filters and PVC tubing. Novec™ fluids have low surface tension for uniform coating, and evaporate rapidly to potentially speed the drying process.

Deposition with HFEs in Medical Applications

Advantages of 3M™ Novec™ fluids for meeting formulating challenges

• Solubility – 3M™ Novec™ Formulates with range of materials including hydrocarbons and fluorocarbons
• Stability – Consistent performance and reduced chance of formulation property changes during storage or transport
• Compatibility – Compatible with metals, ceramics, and most plastics and elastomers
• Wide selection of boiling points – Better control over dry times and dripping
• Inerting – May help inert flammable fluids to help improve safety for workers and customers

Other Medical Applications of 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids

3M™ Medical Device Policy

3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids are not intended, nor approved, for incorporation into medical devices or for use in pharmaceuticals. 3M™ will not support applications such as lung perfusion or blood substitutes, that involve temporary or permanent implantation of the Novec™ engineered fluid.

3M™ Novec™ Electronic Grade Coatings

3M™ Novec™ Electronic Grade Coatings are made from a solvent base of 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids. These coatings are suitable for coating printed circuit boards and printed circuit board assemblies, LED lights, glass surfaces and enclosed electronics such as cell phones and tablets. These electrically stable coatings form repellent films that protect sensitive electronics from moisture, chemicals and corrosion.

3M™ Novec™ Electronic Grade Coating Products

Application: Thermal Management / Heat Transfer

For the semiconductor and electronics industries, 3M™ offers a range of dielectric heat transfer 3M™ Novec™ solutions that provide reliable cooling performance. Among these options, 3M™ Novec™ 649 Engineered Fluid is widely used for dielectric cooling and heat transfer applications where non-flammability and low environmental impact are critical. With its low boiling point and strong dielectric properties, 3M™ Novec™ 649 has been commonly selected for immersion cooling, semiconductor processing, and sensitive electronics protection. Thermal management fluids incorporate two product categories:

• 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids
• 3M™ Fluorinert™ Electronic Liquids

Though both are used for thermal management, the Fluorinert™ brand of Electronic Liquids is distinct from the Novec™ Engineered Fluids brand. Fluorinert™ Electronic Liquids feature different chemical properties that result from the presence of fluorocarbons.

For an in-depth guide to thermal management, heat transfer and immersion cooling applications, please see Thermal Management / Heat Transfer with 3M™ Novec™ and Fluorinert™ Fluids.

3M™ Novec™ 7000, 3M™ Novec™ 649, 7100, 7200, 7300, and 7500 Engineered Fluids have been discontinued. Best Technology offers BestSolv® engineered fluid replacement options for products such as 3M™ Novec™ 649 and related thermal management fluids.

Here are the 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids and 3M™ Fluorinert™ Electronic Liquids that Best Technology stocks for heat transfer applications:

3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids for Thermal Management

3M™ Fluorinert™ Electronic Liquids for Thermal Management

*Items marked with an asterisk have limited availability. Please see the Fluorinert™ alternatives page for suggested alternatives to these limited-availability products.

3M™ Novec™ and 3M™ Fluorinert™ Voluntary Phase Out

With the final order deadline for 3M™ Novec™ and 3M™ Fluorinert™ now behind us, product availability is rapidly declining. We continue to receive 3M™ Novec™ and 3M™ Fluorinert™ fluids when available and will advocate for fulfillment of outstanding orders. However, it is now critical to transition. We strongly recommend beginning validation and testing of BestSolv® replacement fluids to ensure uninterrupted operations.