Category Archives: Chemistry and Materials FAQs

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FAQ; High Performance Greases and Lubricants

Posted on June 28, 2020 by

When working with aggressive chemicals, the use of greases is often highly restricted (or prohibited) and we are often asked what we use. In working with liquid oxidisers (nitrogen tetroxide, nitric acid and hydrogen fluoride), we have generally found that … Continue reading →

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In terms of Corrosion, what’s the difference between a ‘Passivator’ and an ‘Inhibitor’?

Posted on April 27, 2020 by

Metals are said to be ‘passive’ when they show good corrosion resistance against a specific medium. That is to say that metal A might be passive in liquid 1 but not in liquid 2, whereas metal B might be passive … Continue reading →

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How can you tell if chemical analyses are dependable

Posted on September 11, 2013 by

The question sometimes arises about how a client can be totally confident about the services supplied by a chemical analyst. This is very fair question and one that we ourselves need to consider if we outsource particular tests for which … Continue reading →

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Why were some halocarbons solvents banned but some are still in use?

Posted on December 19, 2012 by

The solvents that were banned were the ones that were chemically very stable and survived for very long periods of time in the atmosphere. These materials eventually travelled to the ozone layer and were involved in photochemical reactions which destroyed … Continue reading →

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How Dangerous are the Hydrazine Fuels?

Posted on May 21, 2012 by

Just how dangerous are the Hydrazine Fuels? The hydrazine fuels (anhydrous hydrazine and mono-methylhydrazine MMH) are currently going through close scrutiny in Europe because of the new ‘REACH’ legislation. Consequently, the question of their toxicity is a hot subject. Having … Continue reading →

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FAQ; Are there any chemicals which can be used to strip enamel from copper wire?

Posted on February 8, 2012 by

Answer; we think that the only chemicals which work are rather dangerous. We have started to use self-fluxing wire which does not require the enamel to be removed; you simply apply a hot iron and the coating disappears. You can … Continue reading →

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FAQ; High Performance Greases/Lubricants

Posted on February 8, 2012 by

When working with aggressive chemicals, the use of greases is often highly restricted (or prohibited) and we are often asked what we use. In working with liquid oxidisers (nitrogen tetroxide, nitric acid and hydrogen fluoride), we have generally found that … Continue reading →

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