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Flux Residue Removal

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.

Electronics cleaning with no hazardous chemicals or volatile solvents

For electronics cleaning, Detergent 8 contains no conductive metal cations, and therefore it cannot leave conductive residues

Parts Cleaning: Removing Residue from Gold Plating

Q: Our gold plating process leaves some residue and someone recommended chlorine bleach for cleaning, but we’re afraid that will negatively effect the finish. Can Alconox assist with safely removing residues from gold plating? Should we use a soak or ultrasonic cleaning process?

Residual Chlorine on Printed Circuit Boards

Q. We have found chlorine present on our printed circuit boards after ultrasonic cleaning and distilled water rinse.  As ultrasonic cleaning detergent, we’re using either Liquinox or Detergent 8, but are unsure which one was used on affected boards.  Could either be contributing to this issue?

A. It’s highly unlikely that either detergent, or your cleaning process, is the source of the chlorine residue.  The cleaning process you described, if using detergent at recommended dilution levels, should successfully remove flux and process residues.  

Cleaning Clear Anodized Aluminum

Q. We are seeing white residue on clear anodized aluminum that we are cleaning with Detojet. Why is this happening and what can we do to prevent it?
A. There are a few reasons this may be happening. 

Possible Reason 1: The Detojet® Low Foaming Liquid Detergent concentration may be too low in the wash cycle and the concentration of calcium, magnesium and iron too high in the water used.  This would result…

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For further assistance please fill out the form at Ask Alconox or email us at cleaning@alconox.com.