Alternatives to Isopropyl Alcohol - Technical Article

Many manufacturers continue to rely on isopropyl alcohol (IPA) for cleaning, despite growing safety, environmental, and performance concerns. IPA is no longer the optimal solution—modern alternative cleaners deliver safer, more effective, and more cost-efficient results. Through real-world comparisons in PCB cleaning, SMT stencil cleaning, and system maintenance applications, the brief demonstrates that KYZEN’s alternative solvent, semi-aqueous, and aqueous cleaners consistently outperform IPA. These alternatives provide superior removal of modern fluxes, solder pastes, and adhesives—while offering higher or no flashpoints, lower emissions, and non-hazardous handling and storage.