A compressed gas duster (also known as a Compressed Air Duster,
Canned Air etc.) is a can of compressed gas that is used to remove dust and other particles from areas where a
liquid cannot be used or other dusting materials find hard to reach. This is used popularly to clean electronic
devices such as keyboards and the inside of a computer.
They work by forcing gases out a nozzle and through a connected
tube which then blow away any dust particulates. The gas in the can has been compressed until it is in a liquid
state; as the liquid exits, the can it evaporates into a gas.
Although it is marketed as a ‘can of air’ other more easily
compressible gases are used as a substitute. These include fluorocarbons such as difluoroethane, trifluoroethane
and tetrafluoroethane.
Compressed gas dusters, as stated earlier, are used to clean
sensitive areas or places that are hard to reach. They are ideal for electronic devices as they do not leave any
residue that may damage the equipment. Also, nothing but ‘air’ interacts with the equipment so no physical damage
through contact occurs.
One side effect of the compression process is that while using the
can of air, the can will become very cold. It becomes cold enough to cause frost to develop on the outside of the
tin. This must be monitored as using it for a prolonged time may cause cold air to produce moisture on the item
that is being cleaned; for electronics, this is not a good idea. It is always best to take small breaks between
uses to prevent moisture development.
Cans of air are very cheap and can be bought at any electronic
store. They are very handy items when things that gather dust easily need cleaning and conventional methods are too
rough.
Although they may seem like a good idea, gas dusters do have their
drawbacks. Fluorocarbons are one of the many items that can be abused by people and can dusters are one way to
obtain them. To prevent this, manufacturers will sometime add an agent to make it undesirable to attempt such a
practice. Many people will mistake the gas in gas dusters to be nitrous oxide or some other less dangerous inhalant
and end up suffering harmful side effects from usage.
Fluorocarbons are also slightly flammable under the right
conditions and can be dangerous to people who use the product improperly. It is also important to note that many
fluorocarbons are greenhouse gases and will contribute to global warming. It is important to note the warning
labels on the can as they provide useful information on storage and usage.
There are a few alternatives available, such as other types of
human powered dust blowers, but with the
right usage and precautionary measures, gas dusters are a handy way to keep your workspace clean and also protect
your electronic equipment from dust.