Trial Number 0

Five cleaners were selected from the previous trial. Three solutions were diluted with DI water to five percent by volume in a 600 ml beaker. The other two products were diluted to 10% as suggested by the vendor. All eight solutions were heated to 130 F on a hot plate. Fifteen preweighed coupons were coated with the supplied flux and weighed again. Three coupons were cleaned in a solution for five minutes at room temperature using stir-bar agitation. After cleaning the coupons were rinsed for 15 second in tap water at 120 F and dried using a Master Appliance Corp, Hot-air gun model HG-301A at 500 F for one minute. Following the drying, final clean weights were recorded and efficiencies were calculated.

SUBSTRATE MATERIAL: Circuit Board coupons
CONTAMINANTS: Flux-Kester Solder 1544 Rosin Solder flux (CAS#s: 64-17-5, 78-92-2, 8050-09-7)
CONTAMINATING PROCESS USED: Coupons were coated with oil using a hand held swab.

Only SWR Corp and Envirosolutions were effective in removing over 85% of the flux from the coupons. Valtech removed just over 75% with the other two cleaners cleaning less than 35%. Table 2 lists the calculated contaminant removal rates for each cleaner tested.

Table 2. Cleaning Efficiencies

As noted in the table, when Envirosolutions Bio-T Max was heated at the 10% dilution, a white particulate matter was formed.  Rinsing this white material off the coupons was some what difficult and a second tap water spray was used for 20 seconds.

SWR Corp SWR One and Envirosolutions Bio-T Max were both moderately successful in removing the flux from the circuit board coupons.  A follow test will be conducted to evaluate SWR Corp and Valtech at higher concentrations (10%) and Bio-T Max at room temperature.