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I picked up a can of Air Duster spray to clean an old laptop. It lists no ingredients, so I figured it was just compressed air. But when I spray it, it's a liquid that smells somewhat like alcohol/methanol.
Is this safe to spray into computers?
QuasarDonkey
Posted 2012-10-08T18:04:03.980
Reputation: 958
18
Yes it is safe to spray compressed air into electronics as long as the electronics are OFF before you spray into them. Be sure to hold the compressed air can vertical while pressing its 'air-release'.
If you hold it at any other angle than perpendicular to the ground, liquid can omit from the can (which can take a few minutes to evaporate)
The can must be held upright during use. Inverting, tilting or even shaking the can during use may result in the unevaporated liquid being forced through the nozzle instead of the gas. The liquid will boil away almost instantly outside the can, producing extreme cold in the process. In liquid form, the contents of the can will act as a solvent, causing unwanted damage to surface coatings or labels, this is generally only a problem with optical lens coatings. Side effects of the intense cold can also cause problems due to localised condensation.
Zero Stack
Posted 2012-10-08T18:04:03.980
Reputation: 591
2
A bigger problem could be water. Depending on the humidity of your environment, you could also have some condensation forming. Sudden decompression drastically lowers the temperature of the canned air , which could cool the components and allow some of the moisture in the air in the room to condense on them.
You'll always notice a drop in temperature, but condensation will form only if it's quite humid. If you believe this could be a problem, test it on some non-critical surface and then touch it with your finger or a paper napkin to see if any condensation has formed.
When I first used a can of Dust Off in a humid outdoor environment (on the interior of a mechanical film camera, luckily), I was quite taken aback by the size and number of water droplets that formed.
Vivek
Posted 2012-10-08T18:04:03.980
Reputation: 131
0
Canned air is just Freon. In the old days, they used R12, After that put a hole in the ozone, they started using R134a as that got phased out they have been using other freons.
Matt Hill
Posted 2012-10-08T18:04:03.980
Reputation: 1
1Thanks. I don't think it is compressed air though. It doesn't smell like air. – QuasarDonkey – 2012-10-08T18:10:03.227
2It's air with an aerosolizing agent. If you hold it sideways that'll condense. Don't hold it sideways if the smell bothers you. (Note that this is why you have to show IDs today to buy this stuff - lots of people huff the chemical added. :/) – Shinrai – 2012-10-08T18:10:34.763
Compressed air, or 'canned air' does have other chemicals in it as well, such as nitrous oxide. – Zero Stack – 2012-10-08T18:11:52.330
those crazy kids – QuasarDonkey – 2012-10-08T18:13:41.757
@Shinrai is correct. People can abuse the chemicals found in these containers as an inhalant. IMHO, its not something really to worry about - as long as you aren't directly blowing the compressed air into your mouth, etc. – Zero Stack – 2012-10-08T18:13:43.497
Thanks for the update Foxtrot, that's exactly what I noticed. It came out as a really cold liquid that evaporated away. – QuasarDonkey – 2012-10-08T18:17:18.913
@QuasarDonkey Anytime. If that answers your question, please give it a check! :) – Zero Stack – 2012-10-08T19:35:21.960
Oh sorry, I have a policy of usually waiting a while before accepting. It's fairer in general. Could you first add your reference for the quoted information you provided? – QuasarDonkey – 2012-10-08T19:36:55.960
Sure thing, let me touch up that answer a bit. – Zero Stack – 2012-10-08T19:37:24.517
1My compressed air cans I picked up from Best Buy say that they contains a bitterizing agent to discourage abuse. So it will not be odorless at least for that reason. – Ben Richards – 2012-10-08T20:10:58.990
1dirty secret, I usually don't even bother turning it off first. This is especially fun on computer fans that make a little whizzing sound as you over rev them with compressed air. – Sirex – 2012-10-16T02:25:32.797