Cleaning For ElectronicsWash away the worries of contaminants

Why Clean?Possible Applications and Contaminants

Customer – military – telecoms – safety critical

Coated board

Coating/ Potting

protection

CustomerCustomer

(“no clean” process)

Finished (dirty board)

REFLOW

Surface mount

(IR, Vapour etc)

SOLDER WAVE

Conventional

(through hole) Flux

Bare board (dirty after 16

processes)

PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD PRODUCTIONCircuit diagram photo

plotted onto bare copper board/etched

CLEANING

CLEANING

of stencils/glue applications

CLEANING OF OVENS OR TRANSPORT CHAINS

Cleaned board

CLEANING

Populated

board

Components

Solder paste/adhesive (Stencilling)

For “failed board” REWORK – cleaning of

flux/adhesive/coatings

WHAT CLEANING MAY BE REQUIRED?

FLUX RESIDUES - Assembled PCB’s - Ceramics - Carrier Frames / Jigs + Reflow or Wave equipment

SOLDER PASTE - Stencils / Dispenser Needles - PCB’S (Misprints / Rework)

UNCURED SMT ADHESIVE - Stencils / Dispenser Needles - PCB’S (Misprints / Rework)

OTHER PROCESS CONTAMINANTS - PCB board Preparation (HASL etc) - Handling / storage

CLEANING OF FLUX RESIDUES

– OBJECTIVE - No visual residues - Ionic contamination <1.5 µg/ cm2 NaCl equivalent - High insulation resistivity ( SIR testing IPC TM 650)

Ideally achieved with minimum cost!

A LITTLE CHEMISTRY!

METAL OXIDE + FLUX = CLEAN METAL + WATER + SALTS

Flux wets the metal surfaces and a simple acid/base reaction cleans the surface

Clean metal surfaces can then bondi.e. soldering can take place

Some residues such as salts, un-reacted fluxes/activators are corrosive and conductive and so must be removed

“NO CLEAN” PROCESSES LOW / ZERO RESIDUE IONIC PASTES / FLUXES

WORK EXTREMELY WELL, INCLUDING WHEN CONFORMALLY COATED, SO LONG AS…

- Process is optimized - No residues from earlier stage of board preparation, often >12 processes +

handling -· Fingerprints etc· Oils / Greases (HASL)· Particulates (Solder balls, fibre glass, metal oxides, other contaminants)

CLEANING IS STILL REQUIRED FOR OTHER ASSEMBLY PROCESSES - Solder Pastes / Adhesives

- Stencils / Dispenser Needles - PCB’S (Misprints / Rework)

“LEAD-FREE” PROCESSESTRADITIONAL LEAD/TIN/SILVER ALLOYS HAVE BEEN REPLACED

WITH “NO LEAD” SYSTEMS - TIN/COPPER/SILVER ALLOYS

• CHANGE WAS REQUIRED DUE TO RoHS WHICH WAS IMPLEMENTED IN JUNE 2006

• CLEANING OF “LEAD FREE” FLUX RESIDUES IS ESSENTIAL BUT DIFFICULT

- Increased temperature means that the residues are “baked on” and are much

harder to remove than traditional leaded flux residues

Aqueous-Based CleaningThe Safewash Product Range

SAFEWASHSWA, SWAJ, SWAS

• Non-flammable• All supplied at ready to use concentration• SWAJ suitable for use on sensitive metals

such as copper and aluminium• SWAS good for no-clean fluxes, is easier to

rinse and has very low odour• All foam – unsuitable for high pressure spray• All will absorb 5-15% of their weight in fluxes

and maintain cleaning power

PRODUCT ACTIVE CONTENT

SWA 23%

SWAJ 23%

SWAS 26%

SAFEWASHSWAF, SWAP, SWAC

• Non flammable• Low foaming• SWAF and SWAC supplied as

concentrate – dilute to 5-25% in deionised water

• SWAP ready to use• SWAP suitable for use on sensitive

metals• Can be used in ultrasonic, dishwasher,

spray in-line cleaning or pressure washing.

PRODUCT ACTIVE CONTENT

SWAF 100%

SWAP 26%

SWAC 100%

• Excellent cleaning performance • Removal of all types of flux residues from

PCBs and general degreasing applications• Supplied as a concentrate: reduced

transportation and packaging.• Very low toxicity • Effective over long periods of time by filtering. • Low foam cleaner, suitable for use in:

dishwasher in-line pressure systems Ultrasonic spray under immersion  

SAFEWASH TOTALSWAT

• Non flammable.• Removes pastes and adhesives.• Ready to use (44% active).• Low foam – suitable for use in ultrasonic or spray machines for stencil

cleaning.• Solder paste uptake of up to 50% without affecting cleaning performance.• pH drops from 10.3 to 6 at this loading BUT is no indication of adhesive

content.• Shake before use – clouds at 23-24°C.

SAFEWASH SWAX

SAFEWASH

+ CORROSION INHIBITOR

SUPER + CORROSION INHIBITOR

ULTRASONIC

LOW FOAM

SWAP

SWASSWAJ

SWA SWAF or SWAC

SWAX

SWMN or SWMP

MECHANICAL PARTS

(DEGREASING)

STENCIL ADHESIVES

FLUX RESIDUES AND SOLDER PASTES

SWAT

NEUTRAL PH

SWNS or SWNP

• Water based• Non-flammable• Designed for cleaning reflow ovens and wave

solder machines• Excellent cleaning performance • Removes of all types of flux residues and

general dirt/grease• Supplied ready to use in 500ml spray bottle • Very low toxicity

REFLOW OVEN CLEANERROC

A customer trial of ROC…………

ROC

Before cleaning……….

Applying ROC……….

Cleaning…………

Left: Before cleaning

Right: After cleaning with ROC

Solvent-Based CleaningThe Electrolube Product Range

• Flammable: Not suitable for use on live equipment

• Fast dry-time • Best choice to remove ionic residue; also suitable for removing grease and flux residue• Compatible with most plastics; not suitable on polycarbonate

ULTRASOLVEULS

• Flammable: Cannot be used on live equipment

• Fast-drying• Best for cleaning flux residue, but can be used for ionic residue and heavy grease• Safe on most plastics; not suitable on polycarbonate or polystyrene

Also available – HFFR: Hexane-Free Flux Remover

FLUXCLENEFLU

• Non-flammable• One of the slowest evaporation rates of all the solvent based cleaners• Best for cleaning solder pastes and adhesives• Also suitable for flux residue, ionic residue and heavy grease• Not suitable for use on ABS, polycarbonate or polystyrene• Also available as SSW: 100 wipe tub dispenser• ULC is also suitable for this application

SCREEN AND STENCIL SOLVENTSSW, SSS

Substrate

PCB Cleaning

GlassMagnetic Tape

HeadsPrinters

General

Residue Type

Electronic Contacts

Flammable

PRSPrintasolve

GLCGlass cleaner

VIDMagnetic Head

Cleaner

Non-flammable

ULCUltraclens

ECSPElectronic cleaning

solvent Plus

IPAIsopropyl alcohol

Ionic Residue

Flux Residue

Solder Paste

LFFRLead Free

FluxRemover

FLUFluxclene

FRCFlux

Remover

Non-flammable

Flammable

CCCContact Cleaner

ULSUltrasolve

SSS & SSWScreen and

Stencil Solvent

MDSMetal Degreasing

Solvent

DGCDegreaser

Heavy Grease

START

Thank you for listeningPlease visit www.electrolube.com for more information