3M™ Novec™ 71DE Production Ending – Final Order Deadline
March 31, 2025 is the last day that orders for 3M™ Novec™ products will be accepted due to the phaseout.
Take control of your future by switching to BestSolv™ 71DE or BestSolv™ Delta today. Don’t wait and risk production delays!
3M™ Novec™ 71DE Engineered Fluid
Solvent cleaning is an integral part of many industries, ensuring the removal of contaminants and dirt from various surfaces. However, traditional solvents have led to concerns regarding their environmental impact and safety. Enter 3M™ Novec™ 71DE Engineered Fluid, a solution that addresses these concerns while delivering exceptional cleaning performance.
Novec™ 71DE Engineered Fluid stands out due to its distinctive blend of characteristics. It is non-flammable, possesses minimal toxicity, and has a low impact on global warming and zero ozone-depletion potential. Its low surface tension allows it to penetrate tight spaces for more thorough cleaning. With these qualities, Novec™ 71DE Engineered Fluid serves as a dependable and eco-friendly option for diverse industrial cleaning requirements.
With its solvency power and environmental benefits, Novec™ 71DE Engineered Fluid is an outstanding solvent choice for use with vapor degreasers and immersion cleaning systems.
What is Novec™?
Novec™ is a brand of engineered fluid developed by 3M™ for use in vapor degreasing and precision cleaning. Novec™ fluids use hydrofluoroether (HFE) chemistry, and are non-flammable, low toxicity replacements for CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, n-propyl bromide (nPB) and chlorinated solvents.
What is Novec™ 71DE?
3M™ Novec™ 71DE is a precision cleaning solvent designed for vapor degreasing and immersion cleaning operations. It offers medium-duty cleaning that balances cleaning strength with compatibility with hard plastics such as nylon, PFTE, epoxy and PEEK. A key feature of Novec™ 71DE is its azeotropic nature, meaning that it maintains a constant vapor and liquid composition during evaporation. This ensures reliable performance in vapor degreaser systems.
The chemical composition of 3M™ Novec™ 71DE is a hydrofluoroether (HFE) blend with 1,2 trans DCE. The HFE portion of the blend consists of two inseparable isomers of methyl nonafluorobutyl ether (C4F9OCH3) with essentially identical properties. These are (CF3)2CFCF2OCH3 (CAS 163702-08-7) and CF3CF2CF2CF2OCH3 (CAS 163702-07-6).
As a solvent cleaner, Novec™ 71DE is especially well-suited for removing contaminants containing wax. It effectively removes a wide range of soils, including light and medium oils, fluoro lubes, greases, fluoro greases, silicones, fluoro silicones and waxes, without leaving behind any residue or damage. Its low surface tension ensures thorough cleaning of hard-to-reach areas on intricate parts.
The low surface tension, non-flammability and azeotropic properties also make Novec™ 71DE ideal for coating and lubricant deposition applications where increased solvency is required.
Example applications of 3M™ Novec™ 71DE include:
- Solvent cleaning, rinsing and drying agent
- Immersion cleaning of oils, greases and waxes
- Specialty solvent applications, including coatings
- Carrier solvent for coatings and lubricant deposition
- Oxygen system cleaning.
Novec™ 71DE Features and Benefits
- Stable, azeotropic solvent blend
- Low global warming potential (GWP)
- Zero ozone depletion potential (ODP)
- Non-flammable
- Non-conductive
- Low toxicity makes it safe for workers and the environment
- Low surface tension allows it to penetrate tight spaces for thorough cleaning
3M™ Novec™ 71DE Data Sheets
| Data Sheets | Container Sizes Available (Gallons) |
| 3M™ Novec™ 71DE Technical Data Sheet (PDF) | 55 gal. drum 5 gal. metal container 1 gal. glass container |
What is Novec™ 71DE Compatible With?
Novec™ 71DE Engineered Fluid is suitable for a wide range of cleaning and degreasing tasks, including immersion cleaning, vapor degreasing and deposition solvent applications. It can be safely used with glass and metals like steel, aluminum and copper, and some plastics and elastomers. It should be noted that Novec™ 71DE is not compatible with acrylics, ABS or polycarbonates.
Learn more about materials compatibility on our Solvent Cleaning page.
3M™ Novec™ Voluntary Phase Out Announcement
On December 20, 2022, 3M™ announced plans to exit per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) manufacturing and work to discontinue the use of the PFAS in its product portfolio by the end of 2025.
As an authorized 3M™ Engineered Fluids distributor, Best Technology remains committed to our customers throughout this transition and continues to receive 3M™ Novec™ products. We will continue to advocate for our customers to fulfill current orders as well as secure products for future orders. We highly recommend preparing for the phaseout by testing BestSolv™ replacement fluids.
3M™ Novec™ 71DE Replacement Fluid – BestSolv™ 71DE or Delta
Realizing our customers must transition away from 3M™ Novec™ 71DE, Best Technology offers BestSolv™ 71DE as a Novec™ 71DE exact molecule replacement, or BestSolv™ Delta as a Novec™ 71DE similar molecule, drop-in replacement, based on the 3M™ announcement of the Novec™ fluid phase out in 2022.
Learn more about the BestSolv™ product line of 3M™ Novec™ replacements.
Properties of 3M™ Novec™ 71DE vs BestSolv™ 71DE and BestSolv™ Delta
| Property | 3M™ Novec™ 71DE | BestSolv™ 71DE* | BestSolv™ Delta* |
| Cost Comparison | $$$$ | $$ | $ |
| Composition |
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|
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| Replacement Type | Exact Molecule | Similar Molecule, Drop-In Replacement | |
| Cleaning Performance | Medium Duty | Medium Duty | Medium Duty |
| Boiling Point | 106 °F / 41 °C | 106 °F / 41 °C | 102 °F / 39 °C |
| Stability | Near Azeotrope | Near Azeotrope | Near Azeotrope |
| Vapor Pressure | 383 mmHg | 383 mmHg | 368 mmHg |
| Liquid Density | 1.37 g/cm2 | 1.37 g/cm2 | 1.36 g/cm2 |
| Surface Tension | 16.6 dynes/cm | 16.6 dynes/cm | 17 dynes/cm |
| Kauri-Butanol Value | 48 Kb | 48 Kb | 63 Kb |
| Global Warming Potential (GWP) | Low | Low | Low |
| Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) | None | None | None |
| Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Designation | Yes – 1,2 trans DCE is a VOC. | Yes – 1,2 trans DCE is a VOC. | Yes – 1,2 trans DCE is a VOC. |
| Flash Point | None | None | None |
*Note: Information is provided by Best Technology, not 3M™. 3M™ does not endorse or recommend any alternative material. As such, the customer is responsible for evaluation of the material’s various properties when looking at alternatives.
3M™ Novec™ Price and Ordering
For purposes of product stewardship, 3M™ Novec™ fluids cannot be sold directly online and are available for customers in the United States only.
Please contact our chemical sales department for a quote by clicking the “Get a Quote” button, or call 612-392-2414, ext. 2.