The most popular process that is catching on in the PCB industry over the past 3 years, is the process that we call the "PCMI" process, named after a preclean that has been in use by our customers in the Photo Chemical Machining Institute for 30+ years. With most of our dry film resists, we have confirmed that this process is as good or better than a process that includes a microetch. The PCMI process uses an alkaline cleaner (preferably with a surfactant and a chromate remover),followed by adequate water rinses, acid neutralization, followed by adequate water rinses (preferably DI) and dry--no microetch. Removal of the chromate is sometimes necessary for consistency in alkaline etch and less so in acid etch. If chromates are left on the panel, they have not been shown to interfer with resist adhesion. Therefore the elimination of the microetch is possible. The main consideration is that the copper surface is water break free for 30 seconds, when tested after preclean prior to resist lamination. CAUTION! Now you may not be removing all the chromates at layer preclean and these will interfer with a layer oxide process. Your oxide line may have to be beefed up to handle the excess chromates. I you need more infomation, contact me at 714-730-4215 Ken Bridges Product Manager Primary Imaging Photoresists Morton Electronic Materials >>> <[log in to unmask]> 05/14/97 06:17am >>> Hello Technetters, Can anybody tell me it there are any other options (apart from micro-etch) for pre-cleaning a board prior to applying photoresist. Regards. Frank *************************************************************************** * TechNet mail list is provided as a service by IPC using SmartList v3.05 * *************************************************************************** * To subscribe/unsubscribe send a message <to: [log in to unmask]> * * with <subject: subscribe/unsubscribe> and no text in the body. * *************************************************************************** * If you are having a problem with the IPC TechNet forum please contact * * Dmitriy Sklyar at 847-509-9700 ext. 311 or email at [log in to unmask] * *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** * TechNet mail list is provided as a service by IPC using SmartList v3.05 * *************************************************************************** * To subscribe/unsubscribe send a message <to: [log in to unmask]> * * with <subject: subscribe/unsubscribe> and no text in the body. * *************************************************************************** * If you are having a problem with the IPC TechNet forum please contact * * Dmitriy Sklyar at 847-509-9700 ext. 311 or email at [log in to unmask] * ***************************************************************************