Why Engineered Solvent Costs Are Rising—and What Manufacturers Can Do

Engineered solvents play a critical role in precision cleaning and manufacturing. In industries such as aerospace manufacturing, medical device manufacturing and other precision-driven applications where cleanliness, consistency and material compatibility matter, these solvents support processes that are difficult to replicate with conventional chemistries.

Today, however, manufacturers are facing a significant shift. Changes in solvent availability, costs (both purchase and back-end disposal costs) and regulations are forcing many facilities to re-evaluate how engineered solvents are sourced, used and recovered, as well as how operational risk is managed.

Understanding what engineered solvents are, why availability is changing, and how manufacturers are adapting is becoming essential as supply conditions continue to evolve.

What Are Engineered Solvents and Why Are They Used?

Engineered solvents are specialty fluids designed to deliver specific performance that standard solvents generally cannot. Many of these engineered solvents are formulated to vaporize at relatively low temperatures, making them well suited for applications that require effective cleaning with minimal heat input.

These properties make engineered solvents particularly valuable in:

• vapor degreasing and vacuum vapor degreasing

• precision parts cleaning

• degreasing of complex or delicate components

• additive manufacturing and post-processing

• electronics, aerospace and medical device production  

Low boiling points allow these solvents to clean efficiently, while protecting heat-sensitive materials, reducing energy demand and supporting consistent quality process outcomes.

Why Engineered Solvent Availability Is Changing

In recent years, availability of certain engineered solvents has tightened significantly.

In 2022, 3M announced it would exit the production of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-related chemistries, or forever chemicals, including its Novec™ line of engineered fluids. The company has since confirmed that Novec™ products will be phased out, with final availability dependent on remaining inventory through the end of 2025.

This shift also aligns with increasing attention from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on PFAS chemistries, including proposed reporting, risk evaluation and regulatory frameworks that are influencing how these substances are manufactured, used and managed.

Other fluorinated solvents, including Vertrel™, have also faced supply constraints tied to regulatory pressure, production changes and evolving environmental requirements.

These developments are part of a broader shift affecting how fluorinated and PFAS-related chemistries are manufactured, regulated and distributed globally.

What This Means for Manufacturers

For manufacturers that rely on engineered solvents, these changes introduce several operational challenges.

Supply Uncertainty

Reduced production and limited inventory make long-term planning more difficult. Many of these engineered solvent materials are now manufactured outside of the United States, adding logistics and geopolitical tensions to availability consideration and equation. Facilities that depend on specific solvents for validated processes may face uncertainty around future availability.

Rising Costs

As supply tightens, per-gallon acquisition costs have increased. For low-boiling-point engineered solvents, price volatility can have an outsized impact on operating budgets due to solvent loss and replacement frequency.

At the same time, regulatory pressures have made disposal of used engineered solvents more restricted and more expensive further increasing total solvent lifecycle costs.

Long Qualification Timelines

In regulated industries such as aerospace, electronics and medical devices, switching solvents is often not immediate. Replacement chemistries frequently require extensive testing, validation and documentation before full adoption.

As a result, many manufacturers are looking beyond simple substitution and reassessing how solvents are managed throughout their lifecycle.

How Facilities Are Adapting

Rather than focusing solely on replacement solvents, many facilities are taking a broader approach that includes:

• reviewing where and how engineered solvents are used
• identifying opportunities to improve recovery and reuse
• reducing solvent loss and disposal frequency
• stabilizing costs during periods of supply transition

Onsite solvent recovery has become an important part of this strategy, particularly for low-boiling-point solvents where loss and evaporation rates can be high.

By recovering solvents with consistent, high concentration levels, facilities can extend usable life, reduce purchasing volume and limit exposure to supply disruptions, without compromising process performance.

Equipment Considerations for Recovering Low-Boiling-Point Solvents

Recovering low-boiling-point engineered solvents presents unique challenges. These solvents require tighter control during distillation to manage temperature, pressure and cycle stability.

Engineered systems designed for these applications often incorporate vacuum-assisted operation, careful in process measurement as well as sophisticated programming to allow for efficient distillation and separation at reduced temperatures. This approach helps maintain concentrated solvent performance, while minimizing thermal stress.

As manufacturers adapt to changing solvent availability, equipment selection has become an important part of ensuring continuity and control.

One Example of How Manufacturers Are Responding

As part of this broader industry response, some manufacturers are implementing solvent recovery systems specifically configured for low-boiling-point engineered solvents.

For example, the SolvTrue™ S700C Solvent Recycler is designed to support recovery of low-boiling-point solvents used in precision cleaning and specialty industrial applications. This system combines simple distillation engineered with vacuum-assisted operation, in process measurement coupled with proprietary programming to enable controlled solvent recovery, while maintaining consistent solvent concentration.
Learn more about the SolvTrue™ S700C and other S-Series systems: https://www.cbgbiotech.com/industrial/solvtrue-s-series.

Systems like this are being adopted not as replacements for solvent selection decisions, but as tools to help facilities manage cost, availability and continuity during solvent transitions.

Why This Matters Now

The phase-out of Novec™ and constraints affecting other engineered solvents are accelerating changes that were already underway.

Manufacturers across aerospace, electronics, medical devices and precision manufacturing are reassessing solvent sourcing, use and recovery strategies—not just to address current shortages, but to reduce future risk.

At the same time, costs continue to rise due to availability and broader geopolitical events. With some of these solvents priced at $5,000 per 55-gallon drum, many companies are re-evaluating how these materials are purchased, used and recovered to improve cost per part and protect production margins.

This shift reflects a broader move toward tighter process control, improved solvent management and greater resilience in cleaning workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Novec™ being discontinued?

A: Yes. 3M has announced plans to discontinue its Novec™ engineered fluid portfolio, with availability changing through 2025 as remaining inventory is depleted. As a result, many manufacturers are reassessing how these solvents are sourced, used and managed in critical processes.

Q: Is Vertrel™ also affected by the Novec™ phase-out?

A: While Vertrel™ is not part of the Novec™ product line, it falls within a broader category of fluorinated solvents facing increased regulatory scrutiny and supply constraints. As a result, availability and cost for these types of solvents can be less predictable than in the past.

Q: What industries are most affected by changes in engineered solvent availability?

A: Industries such as aerospace, electronics manufacturing, medical device production, precision parts cleaning and additive manufacturing are particularly affected. These applications often rely on low-boiling-point solvents for cleaning, degreasing and process stability.

Q: What happens when low-boiling-point solvents become difficult to source?

A: When availability tightens, manufacturers often face higher costs, longer lead times and increased operational risk. This can impact validated processes, especially in industries where solvent concentration and consistent performance are critical.

Q: How are manufacturers managing solvent availability and cost changes?

A: Many facilities are taking a broader approach that includes evaluating alternative chemistries, qualifying new suppliers and placing greater emphasis on recovering and reusing solvents onsite. These strategies help reduce dependence on new solvent purchases while maintaining operational continuity.

Q: Can engineered solvents be recovered and reused onsite?

A: Yes. Many engineered solvents can be recovered and reused using properly configured solvent recycling systems. This allows facilities to maintain consistent solvent concentration and performance while reducing waste and overall solvent consumption.

Q: Why is vacuum-assisted recovery important for low-boiling-point solvents?

A: Low-boiling-point solvents require tighter control during recycling to prevent excessive losses and process instability. Vacuum-assisted recovery lowers operating temperatures, enabling efficient separation while helping preserve solvent performance.

What This Means for Your Facility

The phase-out of engineered solvents such as Novec™ and shifting availability of other low-boiling-point solvents are prompting many manufacturers to re-evaluate long-standing cleaning workflows. For facilities in regulated or precision-driven environments, early planning can help reduce risk, manage cost and maintain process continuity during solvent transitions.

Understanding where engineered solvents are used, how they are recovered and how performance is maintained over time will be increasingly important as supply conditions continue to evolve. CBG Biotech can help you navigate these changes and determine your solvent recovery potential. Contact us to speak with a specialist.

Check out these other helpful resources:

• New Product Announcement: SolvTrue™ S700C to Support Recovery of Low-Boiling-Point Engineered Solvents
  New system helps manufacturers manage solvent availability, cost and continuity in precision manufacturing

• Blog: Solvent Choices Are Changing—Is Your Process Sustainable?
  Solvent recycling can help you stay ahead of regulations and supply chain disruptions.

• Blog Post: How to Become Your Own Solvent Supplier
  Solvent recovery systems enable you to use the solvents you have already purchased, benefiting your manufacturing operations.