R. E. Kornfeld, Hi-Tech Furnace Systems, Inc., Shelby Township, MI

Summary: Fluoride Ion Cleaning (FIC), synonymous with Hydrogen Fluoride (HF) cleaning is an extremely effective process for the removal of metallic oxides from metal alloys. It was developed by a major jet engine manufacturer as a cost effective repair process for nickel based airfoil components such as turbine blades and vanes. Today it is widely used to prepare nickel and cobalt based supper alloys for braze repair / Activated Diffusion Healing (ADH) on jet engines and industrial gas turbines.