Those are gold flakes to add pizzazz to the board. Just like Goldschläger http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sam%27s_Camera_195.jpg :) -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ioan Tempea Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 7:56 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] Metal particles on the PCB Thanks to all that responded! As per the fab, it is Ni and Au, coming from a clogged filter in the plating bath. In the end we've managed to brush hard enough to remove the contamination. Best regards, Ioan Tempea, ing. t : 450-967-7100 ext : 244 [log in to unmask] www.digico.cc P N'imprimer que si nécessaire - Print only if you must -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of stephengregory5849 Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 10:26 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] Metal particles on the PCB Hi Ioan! Got your pictures finally and have them posted now, they're here: http://stevezeva.homestead.com/files/Photo_002.jpg http://stevezeva.homestead.com/files/Photo_004.jpg I've seen something like this before, and it was caused by overetching which caused plating slivers. Luckily, we found these before we populated the boards. We rejected the boards back to the fab vendor and had them replaced for new ones. We rejected them because of the possibilty that minimum electrical clearances were being violated. Steve ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ioan Tempea" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 1:48 PM Subject: [TN] Metal particles on the PCB Dear Technos, I have these PCB shaving a lot of small, but visible with unaided eye, Au or Cu particles on them, all over. I have sent Steve a couple of images, but in the mean time I would like to state my questions. As per IPC-A-610D, 10.4.2, this is a defect condition. The exceptions at 5.2.6.1 say this would be acceptable if the particles were entrapped in flux, which is not the case. Big part of the litter goes away if wiped with alcohol soaked cloth, but not all. Brushing will not remove the leftovers, which seem to be well attached to the soldermask, but a solid nail scratching will. First of all: is this a defect? Secondly, are there any better methods to clean than what I have tried? Plasma and other funky methods are not an option and solvent cleaning is probably not either, since the boards are already populated on one side with no-clean flux. Thank you, Ioan Tempea, ing. Ingénieur Principal Fabrication / Sr. Manufacturing Engineer 30 ans déjà! - Already 30 years! 950 rue Bergar, Laval, Québec, H7L 5A1 t : 450-967-7100 ext : 244 Mtl : 514-990-5762 f : 450-967-7444 [log in to unmask] www.digico.cc <http://www.digico.cc/> P N'imprimer que si nécessaire - Print only if you must --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 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 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 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 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 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 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- This e-mail and any files transmitted with it may be proprietary and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. 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