I was very curious on this one, so I contacted the supplier of the UV pens I found from an internet search, and asked them if the pens were non-conductive. This is their response: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- From: BLACK LIGHT WORLD [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 5:41 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Invisible Pens Buy a one oz bottle and see if you can electricute yourself : ) I have no idea. This is the winner of the oddest questions we have received year to date. Where do we send the prize? I will say that we sell thousands of gallons a year for circuit board marking projects. Also for info our MSDS is on all products same page. Gook luck. Thank You Anthony www.blacklightworld.com www.germjuice.com www.germaglow.com [log in to unmask] Fax 270 721-0073 Sales @ Service 270 524-5746 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- Looks like the testing proposed by Brian is the only option to truly get the answer! Good luck! Kevin -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brian Ellis Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2006 4:01 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] UV flourescent pens for rework identification. Why halides? All ionic contamination is bad, not just halides. If the UV ink is water soluble, there is an easy test: Take a small PP beaker, rinse it out several times with DI water, along with the probe of a conductivity meter, then fill with the best DI water you can lay your hands on (pref <0.2 µS-cm). Dip the felt of the marker in it and gently stir the surface with it (do not cause turbulence). If the conductivity remains ± stable, then have no fear, it's OK. If the ink is alcohol based, you can do the same but use a ~50% solution of IPA/water and start with a conductivity of <0.05 µS-cm. If the solvent is non-polar, you will have to scribble on a demonstrably clean PP substrate, allow to dry completely, and repeat the second test above, but immersing the sample in the IPA/water mix for, say, 5 minutes. Remember to run a control sample without ink for all the tests to establish a baseline for comparison, as there will be a rise in conductivity from CO2 absorption. Brian Jenny Drake wrote: > Thanks for the quick replies. From what you are saying it looks like I > will need to do some testing on a particular pen and ink to see if it > is suitable for PCB's. If I buy just a general UV marker pen it could > be chock full of halide ionics for example. Unfortunately I can't use > a washable flux, or ink as the assemblies can't be cleaned. The PCB is > part of a larger ceramic and stamped metal component, which has > several cavities that would be nearly impossible to get water, or > solvent out of. > > Regards, Jenny > > -----Original Message----- > From: Kevin Glidden [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: 01 November 2006 21:04 > Subject: Re: UV flourescent pens for rework identification. > > http://www.blacklightworld.com/non%20porous%20pen.htm\ > > ??? > > Don't think this is made expressly for PCBs....not sure if it is > conductive or not... > > Kevin Glidden > Manufacturing Engineer > Astronics Luminescent Systems Inc. > > -----Original Message----- > From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dehoyos, Ramon > Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 3:22 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: [TN] UV flourescent pens for rework identification. > > Hi Jen: > Use FluxMarker, P/N FM5WSO, a water soluble marker that > comes in different colors. It works well and comes off easily. I am > sure that you can find vendors through Google. > > Good Luck > Ramon > > > -----Original Message----- > From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jenny Drake > Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 8:37 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: [TN] UV flourescent pens for rework identification. > > Has anyone any experience using pens with ink that is invisible under > normal light, but shows up under UV for identifying areas of PCB's > needing rework? > This would remove the need to place and remove stickers on the > components and PCB and be invisible to the end customer. > > Various pens are on the market for to let you mark your property, but > there is no information that I've been able to find for their use on > PCB's. > Ideally I would want one that has been shown to be safe for use on > electronics and have low ionic contamination. > > Regards, Jen > > --------------------------------------------------- > Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using 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