Dave,

 Thank you. A tiny amount on a Q-Tip works so well that I did not want to
see it simply dismissed!

 Anyone with a big enough container to dunk a PCB into acetone is, as my Dad
would say: " Cruisin for a Bruisin ". :-)

Bob K.

-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David D. Hillman
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2014 3:08 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [TN] Acetone as a cleaning agent for PCBA's

Hi Bob - No, that specific amount in that type of procedure should not be an
issue. But the fact that there is sufficient industry data showing that
acetone attacks the butter coat, potentially attacks the laminate and that
I have alternative cleaning chemistries that do not cause possible damage is
reason enough for me to not use acetone. I tend to try and design processes
that are "Hillman proof" as sometimes materials get misused unintentionally.
You are using a specific, controlled procedure but another person who is not
as diligent or knowledgeable may use the acetone in a less than acceptable
manner causing damage. Just a case of "risk versus reward" where I have
alternatives that eliminate the risk.

Dave 



From:   "Robert Kondner" <[log in to unmask]>
To:     "'TechNet E-Mail Forum'" <[log in to unmask]>, 
<[log in to unmask]>
Date:   02/20/2014 01:59 PM
Subject:        RE: [TN] Acetone as a cleaning agent for PCBA's



Dave,

 Do you think using two drops on a Q-Tip for cleaning with the acetone
evaporated in 5 seconds is going to hurt a board? 

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David D. Hillman
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2014 2:14 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [TN] Acetone as a cleaning agent for PCBA's

Hi Bob - Acetone has the potential of damaging your laminate (see Richard's
reply) and I would not recommend it as a cleaning solvent.

Dave



From:   Robert DeQuattro <[log in to unmask]>
To:     <[log in to unmask]>
Date:   02/20/2014 12:20 PM
Subject:        Re: [TN] Acetone as a cleaning agent for PCBA's
Sent by:        TechNet <[log in to unmask]>



Thanks all on the comments.

This is a picture of what the residue looks like from the acetone cleaning
process.



[cid:[log in to unmask]]



Based upon the replies at this point to this thread, it appears:

1.       Using the acetone as they are seems acceptable for cleaning

2.       The boards we are supplying have some type of residue on them 
regardless of the results of the zero-ion testing.



Bob













-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Fenner [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2014 12:56 PM
To: 'TechNet E-Mail Forum'; Robert DeQuattro
Subject: RE: [TN] Acetone as a cleaning agent for PCBA's



Hmm

I think I would like to know what their wiping procedure is and what they
are hoping to achieve by doing it before making any firm comment.

Naturally nothing has changed in your place or theirs, but something has if
this has just started to appear.

I would start from the premise that the boards can be no cleaner than the
last thing that touched them.

Unless the acetone is being allowed to flush off the board the probability 

is that they are making the boards dirtier. If there is anything in the
acetone or on the board and it dries in place then the board will be no
cleaner than it was before (the soil might be redistributed slightly) and
anything in the acetone or on operators gloves will be left on board. If
they are applying the acetone to the wipe by holding it against the bottle 

then anything in the wipes will gradually accumulate in the bottle.

Quite likely they are just seeing a surface effect as you would get on any 

shiny surface wiped over like this. Think of cleaning a mirror. So it could
be technique or the acetone is dissolving something from the wipe or 

softening the resist slightly. OR your boards are contaminated from
packaging say and they are seeing partial removal. In this respect the
boards could be ionically clean as measured by zero ion tester, but
theoretically could have non ionic contamination.

So a lot of what ifs and maybes at this point.





Regards



Mike

-----Original Message-----

From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Robert DeQuattro

Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2014 5:00 PM

To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>

Subject: [TN] Acetone as a cleaning agent for PCBA's



I have a customer that uses acetone to wipe down their PCBA's upon receipt.

The assemblies we make for them are cleaned using a closed loop aqueous
board washer then sampled for cleanliness with our zero-ion tester per
J-std-001E guidelines.

Recently this customer commented that boards appeared dirty upon cleaning
with the acetone.  Does anyone have any thoughts on this acetone cleaning
process.

Thanks,



Bob



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