Aerosol Duster

No, our dusters do not leave a residue. They contain 100% volatile propellent, which means the chemical completely evaporates. If there is moisture left behind after using duster, that is condensation from the ambient air because the spray cooled the surface. Be aware that many consumer dusters include bitterant to prevent "huffing". That bitterant  can be left behind as a residue, so should be avoided when cleaning sensitive or critical devices. None of our dusters contain bitterant.

None of our dusters contain bitterant. Many consumer dusters include bitterant to prevent "huffing". That bitterant  can be left behind as a residue, so should be avoided when cleaning sensitive or critical devices.

Avoid cheap retail dusters that contain bitterant if you are working on sensitive electronics. Many retail dusters have bitterant added to prevent huffing. When duster is used in the home, there is concern that the material will be purposely inhaled (called “huffing” or “dusting”) by minors, which can sometimes lead to tragic consequences. To avoid this, bitterant is added to make the duster taste bad. This same bitterant can lead to unwanted and potentially harmful residues on sensitive surfaces like electronic circuit boards.

The duster vapors themselves do not produce much of a triboelectric charge. There isn’t a non-contaminating additive that can be added because it would just stay at the bottom of the can (the vapors are at the top, which are released when you open the valve).

The liquid propellant can produce a charge, and the plastic actuator can become charged as well. There are a few solutions to consider:

1. Anti-Static Freeze Spray can be used upside-down as a duster. The vapor itself won’t be any different, but if the can is mistakenly turned, the liquid is much less likely to be charged.
   
2. Vortex 360 is an invertible can, so it is designed to avoid spraying liquid regardless of how the can is turned.

This phenomenon occurs due to the expansion of the compressed refrigerant liquid as it dispenses through the aerosol valve and flashes to a gas. If the aerosol is operated for a long period, frost may form on the can because it is freezing the surrounding water vapor from the air. If it is collecting on the material to be cleaned, the operator is dispensing for too long of a period or is dispensing it too close to the material. The frost will evaporate and leave no residue. However, particulate matter blown onto a sensitive surface may cause damage due to the high pressure of the duster if dispensed too closely to that surface.

If the can and valving is intact and undamaged, it will not leak or spoil, so can sit on a shelf for as long as 10 years.

Internal pressure, as measured in pounds per square inch (PSI), depends on the propellant used in the duster: HFC-134a - 71, HFC-152a - 63, HFO-1234ze - 47.

Yes, if liquid refrigerant is expelled on comes in contact with your skin. Most duster contain refrigerant that is liquid when held under pressure. The goal of duster is to spray the vapor not the liquid, so the valving is designed to capture the vapor from the top of the can. When you shake a can, turn it, or flip it upside-down, you can introduce the liquid refrigerant to the mix.

Most duster contain refrigerant that is liquid when held under pressure. The goal of duster is to spray the vapor not the liquid, so the valving is designed to capture the vapor from the top of the can. When you shake a can, turn it, or flip it upside-down, you can introduce the liquid refrigerant to the mix. Careful, because that is cold enough to cause frost bite and damage sensitive electronics. Vortex 360 (part #1697-8S) is designed to spray upside-down without expelling liquid refrigerant.

It can if used improperly. Aerosol dusters contain pressurized refrigerant, not breathable air as the common names (e.g. “canned air”, “compressed air”) for it suggests. Keep the cans away from high heat and flames, and avoid puncturing the can. See the SDS (safety data sheet) for more specifics.