I would say that this is probably non-saponifiable residue. You would
probably understand the process better if you stopped calling your
cleaning solution 'soap'. It is not a soap but an alkaline solution
which reacts chemically with organic acids in the flux residues to
**form** a soap. To know what the non-saponifiable residues are, we
would need to know a lot more about your process, including the flux
type, soldering process, type of cleaning machine, water quality etc.

Brian

Bruce D Stilmack wrote:
> We are seeing a condition that has seemed to become a problem in our
> Manufacture of PCB's.  We are seeing a film or slight amount of particulate
> matter on some of our solder joints.  It gives a dull appearance that
> almost looks rough.  The substance is dry, and can be brushed away with a
> dry medium coarse brush.  It seems to only adhere to low areas ie the
> bottom of a fillet.  If an excessive amount of solder is on the joint, the
> joint appears shiny and smooth.  We use an Aqueous cleaner (Electrovert)
> and a Armakleen soap solution for cleaning.  We change the soap once a week
> and we only do a moderate to small volume business.  Anyone have any ideas?
>
> Bruce Stilmack
> GDLS-TO Manufacturing Engineer
> (850) 574-4773
> [log in to unmask]
>
> ---------------------------------------------------
> Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e
> To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
> the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet
> To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL)
> To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest
> Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives
> Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315
> -----------------------------------------------------
>
>

---------------------------------------------------
Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e
To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet
To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL)
To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest
Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives
Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315
-----------------------------------------------------