Why & How to Clean PCBAs Before Conformal Coating

In this video, Nicole Bass and Jessica Cadena, Product Managers for Techspray, explain why it is so critical to clean PCBAs before your conformal coating process, and how to set up a cleaning operation.
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CLEAN OFF FLUX CONTAMINATION & WHITE RESIDUES TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY OF ELECTRONICS
Flux removers (defluxers) remove flux residues and other contaminants left by manufacture, rework, or repair of printed circuit boards. Residues from higher, lead-free temperatures are harder to clean. PWR-4, G3, E-LINE and Precision-V flux removers have been proven very effective at removing fluxes baked on at lead-free temperatures.
Micro-components and fine pitch leads are delicate and easily damaged, so brushing and scrubbing should be avoided if possible. The G3, E-LINE and Precision-V products have a powerful spray and strong solvent that blasts off residues and cleans areas under components that a brush cannot touch.
Techspray offers traditional solvent-based cleaners and cutting-edge water-based technologies marketed under the Techspray Renew brand.
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PROTECT ELECTRONICS FROM EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS
Techspray offers SR, AR and UR conformal coating formulas for a wide variety engineering requirements including thermal, moisture & static resistance. All coatings are IPC-CC-830B and UL94 V-0 qualified.
Techspray offers a variety of conformal coating formulas for differing field or engineering requirements and is IPC CC 830B and UL94-0 Qualified or rated. Specifications generally depend on the type of protection needed: e.g., thermal, moisture, or static resistance.
Coatings contain Opti/Scan (except LED Coating) to allow quality control inspection of coverage and evenness of the coating on a PCB. A coated board can be passed under a standard, low-cost UV (short-wave black) light to fluoresce the coated areas. The brighter the glow, the thicker the coating.
Application methods:
Dip - High volume method to fully coat boards. Thickness of the final coating is controlled by viscosity and withdrawal speed from the pot.
Conformal Coating Spray - Computer controlled selective spray systems eliminate the need for masking. Higher viscosity is generally needed (70-200 cps) to create precise edge definition and prevent splattering.
Manual Application - Aerosol and brushing are generally used for small production runs, rework and repair. The aerosol needs to be compatible with the original coating if it’s rework.
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www.techspray.com
Techspray is a leading manufacturer of chemical products and soldering tools for the electronics industry. Techspray formulates, blends, and packages a wide variety of chemicals and assorted support products for the electronics industry, aerospace, heavy industry, and plant and equipment maintenance including degreasers, contact cleaners, flux removers, dusters, conformal coating, solder mask, water-based cleaners, desoldering wick, soldering tips, and the popular Plato shear cutters. More information can be found at techspray.com.