Aerosol Duster & Freeze Spray

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.

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.