TechNotes

Q. I am seeing a white powder around solder joints on PCBs.  Is this solder flux? We use Detergent 8 for cleaning. Do you know why this is happening and how to stop or remove it?
A. There are several ways of approaching this common issue of solder flux and its removal. For example, One way to fix this problem is to lower the temperature when soldering. In another scenario, a leading aerospace manufacturer studied putting potassium silicate (10 mL in 10 L) into the Detergent 8 bath to act as an inhibitor to stop the formation of these white salts.

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Q: What types of Alconox, Inc. detergent would I use to clean a mold release agent? As an aside, is there any chance I could use the same detergent to also clean copper traces off a printed circuit board?

A: Yes! You may indeed be able to use one detergent in both these cleaning applications. But it will only work if the copper is not in the form of an oxide. Here’s why.

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Q: What can I use to replace hazardous acids below pH 1 cleaning?
A: Depending on exactly what you are using your acid cleaning to do, we may be able to help you.

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Q. We are looking for a low concentration surfactant to improve DI water wetting to polycarbonate and stainless steel during an aerated flushing operation for removal of sub-micron surface particles. Our parts are cleaned before assembly – we need to improve a DI-water flushing operation that is meant to remove sub-micron sized surface particulate from inside an assembled gas path (tube). How can we improve wettability of DI water?

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Q. We need to remove RMA solder flux on indium/lead soldered subassemblies. Most aqueous cleaners attack this solder. A. According to the Materials H

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Q. I need to strip a silicon coating from a small coaxial cable. We currently use a heated ultrasonic cleaner with about 1.5 gallon reservoir with Dynasol as the solvent. We need an explosion proof heated ultrasonic cleaner or a recommendation.
A. If you want to avoid having to use an explosion proof ultrasonic with a solvent like Dynasol, I recommend you use . . .

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A non-free rinsing cleaner might contain fragrances that were designed to deposit and leave a fresh scent, or it might contain corrosion inhibitors that are designed to deposit and leave behind an anti-corrosion film.

Alconox, Inc, cleaners are free rinsing detergents and do not leave deposits on substrates after rinsing.

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Have a critical cleaning challenge? There’s an App for that!! Alconox, Inc. the critical cleaning experts, launches its first ever application to put your cleaning needs and detergent selection information right at your fingertips.

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There is near zero tolerance of contamination in fiber optics. Fiber optic cable needs scrupulously clean surfaces at the glass joint to assure efficient light transmission. Any cleaner which leaves a residue will make matter worse as this will attract contaminants.
The best process for cleaning fiber optic cable is…..

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Q. Our current cleaning process has a tendency to leave spots on board and component leads. Analysis of the white spots shows oxides of tin and lead; rust-colored spots show iron oxide. FTIR analysis shows no organic content, so it’s not soap, flux, etc. I have recommended that the production people use appropriate Alconox Inc. cleaner or possibly DI water only for a very short cleaning cycle, and that they dry the boards promptly in flowing warm air. Rust is coming from tinned steel component leads. C

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