Apiezon AP-100 Hydrocarbon Greases

Specifications Table

Vapor Pressure	@20°C: 7 x 10-11
Melting Point	42-52°C
Temperature Range	10-30 (°C)
Lubricity 4 Ball Test	450 (kg)
Outgassing Characteristics	TML: <1% CVCM: <0.1%

Charts

With a vapour pressure of lower than 10-10 Torr at 20°C, Apiezon AP100 is a lubricating grease designed for use with equipment present within ultra-high vacuum systems.

Ultra-High Vacuum

As the vapour pressure graph opposite demonstrates, Apiezon AP100 exhibits extremely low vapour pressure characteristics at ambient temperatures and can be used with confidence under ultra-high vacuum conditions.

Easy to remove

Apiezon AP100 is easily removed by wiping with a soft, clean lint free cloth. Any residues of grease can be washed away with warm soapy water or by using any aromatic hydrocarbon solvent (toluene, xylene). For a more environmentally friendly solvent, we recommend limonene. Apiezon hydrocarbon greases are not soluble in alcohols (ethanol, IPA) or ketones (acetone, MEK) so these cannot be used for cleaning.

Silicone-free

As a hydrocarbon-based grease, Apiezon AP100 is highly resistant to 'creep' or 'carry over', a phenomenon associated with silicone-based products (silicone tends to travel away from the area of application and contaminate adjacent surfaces).

The creep resistance of Apiezon AP100 benefits scientific users as it reduces sample contamination and the risk of interference in analytical techniques such as infra-red and mass spectrometry.

Silicone contamination is of particular concern in surface coating applications such as industrial paint or metal deposition processes, as trace amounts of silicone on surfaces prevent the adherence of paint and poor or incomplete coverage results. Likewise in semiconductor manufacture, yields can be severely affected by silicone contamination.

'Gettering' action

Apiezon AP100 grease is manufactured from a unique feedstock containing a high proportion of branched and unsaturated hydrocarbons. These complex structures give AP100 a very high molecular weight and consequently strong powers of absorption, particularly for other hydrocarbon molecules.

Strong absorption properties ensure that Apiezon AP100 has a powerful 'gettering' action (the power to absorb greasy or chemical impurities on metal and glass surfaces - critical in the electronics industry where scrupulous cleanliness is required). AP100 has no contaminating effect on electrical equipment and is easily removed by hydrocarbon solvents, taking with it many trace impurities which are not removed by solvents alone.

Compatibility

Apiezon AP100 is compatible with a wide range of O-ring materials including:

• Viton
• Silicone
• Nitrile (>30% nitrile content)
• Nylon
• Polyurethane
• Polyethylene
• Polypropylene

Due to its hydrocarbon base, Apiezon AP100 is not compatible with:

• EPDM (ethylene propylene diene M-class rubber)
• EPR (ethylene propylene rubber)
• Butyl rubber
• PVC seals

Shelf life

The shelf life of Apiezon AP100 is ten years from date of manufacture, providing the product is in the original unopened packaging and has been stored at ambient (10 to 30°C) temperature.