The Stabilants are used on contacts to provide a resident, long-life, contact-enhancement treatment which does not involve the use of any CFC's, or any other ozone depleting solvents. Classed as "Z-axis conductors", they conduct by quantum-tunneling effects when used in thin films on electromechanical contacts. This generally results in the reliability of a soldered joint without formation of a physical bond. Because they themselves are environmentally safe, and are a one-application, resident treatment, a small amount can replace many, many times their volume of cleaning solvents with a consequent major improvement in a manufacturer's environmental burden.
Stabilant 22 itself is not an ODC (Ozone Depleting Chemical as are CFC's, and to lesser degree, HCFC's), nor are any ODC's used in the manufacture of Stabilant. We do not supply Stabilants diluted by or propelled using any CFC's or HCFC's an they are not available in pressurized spray cans.
Having a very low vapor pressure and a resistance to cross-linking effects caused b the presence of curing agents or accelerants in both elastomers and thermoset plastics used in electronics, the Stabilants will generally last longer than the design life of the electronic equipment on which they are used.
The concentrate, Stabilant 22, is considered as non-toxic; the isopropanol-dilute form, Stabilant 22A, has a very low toxicity. This also applies to Stabilant 22E, which is diluted with ethanol In the quantities used in electronic manufacture and/or servicing within a room having normal ventilation it is extremely doubtful that even an minor-irritant concentration of the isopropanol could b reached unless very large quantities of the material were spilled. As it is usually applied from a 5 mL, 15mL or 50 mL dropper bottle, the amount of alcohol available for vaporization is so small as to be a non-hazard.
They have excellent lubricating properties making them ideal for use in such applications as switches, potentiometers, slip-rings, and tunable-microwave-cavities. The Stabilants, when applied, retain an ability to lift both corrosion by-products as we as contaminant materials off the metal contact surfaces. Thus they make low-level electronic connectors much less susceptible to thin-film rectification effects and can significantly cut RF demodulation in poorly shielded contacts.
Because of their broad temperature tolerance (from -70° C to +220° C) they have found wide application in electronic equipment used in severe temperature environments.
The Stabilants were developed in 1977 and went several years of experimental use before being adopted by the Canadian Armed Forces in 1983 after which they were issued with a NATO reference. They were also introduced into the non-military market in 1983, and were initially employed in consumer-electronics. After several successful years in the consumer field they were used in biomedical electronics and commercial computing applications, and are now employed in electronic equipment ranging from Air-traffic Control applications to Agricultural Machinery.
Yes, many times we have been told of how a small amount of Stabilant has saved a customer thousands of dollars. Because they only have to be used once, they provide a long-term limit on the degradation of an electronic contact that is far-more reliable and much less expensive than that provided by repeated disconnection and cleaning. And because they do not short out between adjacent contacts, they can be used without regards for wetting-down of the connector's insulation. Stabilant 22 does not affect plastics used in electronics.
Because Stabilants are very simple to use in the field, the bulk of connector-related problems can be cured in-situ, and this ability has significantly reduced the "board-float" needed to keep systems functioning.
In numerous instances, Stabilants have been able to restore electronic equipment/systems, which were considered unserviceable, to many additional years of useful life.
Revision 11
Stabilants are a product of Dayton Wright research & development and are made in Canada
NATO Supply Code 38948
15 mL of S22A has NATO Part # 5999-21-900-6937
The Stabilants are patented in Canada - 1987; US Patent number 4696832. World-wide patents pending. Because the patents cover contacts treated with the material, a Point-of-sale License is granted with each sale of the material.
Stabilant, Stabilant 22, and product type variations thereof are Trade Marks of D.W. Electrochemicals Ltd.
© Copyright 1987, '88. '89, '90 - D.W. Electrochemicals Ltd. This note may be reproduced or copied, provided its content is not altered. The term "contact enhancer", © 1983 Wright Electroacoustics.
NOTICE: This Application Note is based on customer-supplied information, and D.W. Electrochemicals is publishing it for information purposes only. In the event of a conflict between the instructions supplied by the manufacturer of the equipment on which the Stabilant material was used, and the service procedure employed by our customer, we recommend that the manufacturer be contacted to make sure that warranties will not be voided by the procedures.
While to our knowledge the information is accurate, prospective users of the material should determine the suitability of the Stabilant materials for their application by running their own tests. Neither D.W. Electrochemicals Ltd., their distributors, or their dealers assume any responsibility or liability for damages to equipment and/or any consequent damages, howsoever caused, based on the use of this information.
Stabilant, Stabilant 22, and product type variations thereof are Trade Marks of D.W Electrochemicals Ltd.