Debbie - You didn't say what testing you were doing, but FTIR testing is often used for detecting / profiling silicon(& other) contamination. As you said it takes several days for the results. Photometrics is in our area (Anaheim) offers good service - I'm sure there are other acceptable labs around also. Clean-up is tough. We have used IPA but that may not work depending on what else the silicon may be bound with... For surface finish compatibility, you should check with your OSP supplier depending on what solvent you use. The key to resolving silicon contamination is to keep it out your facility. Once you're confident that all processes & support materials (including press pads, slip sheets, maint oils, etc.) are silicon free - don't forget raw materials that may be shipped in through a distributor that may be slitting other (silicon based) materials... We perform receiving inspection testing (raw materials) based on history. From our experience it's much easier to keep it out the shop rather than to fight trying to clean it up... Hope this helps. Bob Sheldon Packard-Hughes Interconnect >>> Debbie Kenney <[log in to unmask]> 08/03/98 08:09am >>> > -----Original Message----- > From: Debbie Kenney > Posted At: Monday, August 03, 1998 8:39 AM > Posted To: IPC FORUM > Conversation: Silicon contamination > Subject: Silicon contamination > > We are a manufacturer of flex circuits supplying to a customer base > that is extremely Silicon sensitive. Initial testing shows that we are > picking up the silicon in our lamination cycle, DOE's are continuing. > My questions to the industry are: > > 1. What chemicals are available that will remove silicon from finished > product? > 2. Will these chemicals also remove the Entek OSP coating? > 3. Ideas on clean room modifications to eliminate silicon > contamination ? > 4. Does anyone have recommendations on a good procedure for in house > testing of the silicon levels? Currently we contract with a lab which > takes 3-4 days. > > Thanks in advance, > Debbie Kenney > Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc. > Disk Drive Division > (714) 996-1248 ex 215 > [log in to unmask] ################################################################ TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet ################################################################ Please visit IPC's web site (http://www.ipc.org) "On-Line Services" section for additional information. For technical support contact Hugo Scaramuzza at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.312 ################################################################