Decontamination of Delicate Parts for Reuse

摘要

A fluorocarbon surfactant cleaning process, initially developed for the cleaning of inertial guidance instruments parts, has been successfully applied to the nondestructive decontamination of equipment. The cleaning medium used in this process, a solution of a high molecular weight fluorocarbon surfactant in a perfluorinated liquid carrier, does not present a hazard to the atmospheric ozone layer. A prototype Nuclear Decontamination System) was operated at a nuclear power station. Operating results obtained during these trials will be discussed. In particular, a wide variety of electronic equipment was decontaminated, including a desktop computer, a computer monitor, voltmeters, micrometers, a torque wrench and wire cutters. These items were not only decontaminated to free release levels, but were still functioning after decontamination.