How to: Clean Circuit Boards & Electronic Components

Q. We are a large manufacturer of circuit boards and have been upgrading our cleaning methods.  Alconox Inc. Technical Support recommended we use Detergent 8 to clean circuit boards.  Why is it beneficial to use Detergent 8 when cleaning circuit boards and electronic components?

A. Detergent 8® Low-Foaming Ion-Free Detergent contains no conductive metal cations, such as sodium, therefore it cannot leave conductive residues.  This is essential when you want to clean circuit boards and electronic components. Its coupling ability keeps soils suspended in the cleaning solution, not on the circuit boards.

If the solution is promptly washed away with deionized water, boards will meet the omega-meter or ionograph standards of cleanliness as applicable.

Detergent 8 cleaner is low-foaming and can be used manually, soaking or automated washer/sprayer use.

The detergent be used in a variety of electronic applications, such as:

• cleaning glass substrate before dichroic coating of electronic parts,
• cleaning during manufacturing and assembly,
• cleaning electronic contacts and leads as well as ceramic insulators and components.

You can also review our electronics industry page for further details.

To request this or any Alconox Inc. detergent for free, please complete the questionnaire at Get Sample. For more information about any one of our Alconox Inc. detergents, consult the technical bulletin for each product. Or click here to access each of our detergent’s  Safety Data Sheets.

Do you have a critical cleaning question for the experts at Alconox Inc.?  Search TechNotes to see if it’s been answered before or Ask Alconox.

Contact us any time: cleaning@alconox.com