In the printed circuit board and the world of assembly required for product quality and market readiness, the cleaning test involves the analysis of a sample to determine the "type" or "amount" of a contaminant material.
This contaminant material can potentially be anything. It can be large or small, anything known or unknown. Using various analytical techniques for cleaning testing can help determine which material is available and how much.
Analysis by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is traditionally performed when an observed pollutant is believed to have an organic component. In general, these contaminants are a problem for assembly-level samples, such as materials that can cause corrosion and result in a high resistance short circuit. In addition to the printed circuit board / assembly samples, FTIR can be used to analyze any sample in which an unknown material is present.
The test program can also assist in assessing the consistency, quality level, and percentage of the external component of the sample. IR radiation is passed through the material, resulting in a spectrum that serves to illuminate the unique properties of molecular absorption and transmission of the sample. When used in conjunction with computer-generated algorithms, it is an accurate quantitative analysis method for the identification of materials.
FTIR is a non-destructive technique that can provide a superior alternative to the distributor or filter methods of infrared spectral analysis. It is more precise and offers a mechanically simple measuring process with a single machine part. Additional features of the FTIR cleaning test include increased level of scanning sensitivity and much higher optical efficiency combined to reduce the presence of external noise.
The biggest advantage of FTIR is usually the speed of the process. Previously, the dispensing devices used in the cleaning test offered a slow scanning process that affected the efficiency rate in engineering and manufacturing. But FTIR is so technologically advanced that it measures all infrared frequencies simultaneously through a unique signal generated by the interferometer. Since the signal can be measured in seconds, the process is reduced to some of the previously acceptable norm.
Although FTIR is typically a self-guided analysis, IPC has developed some test methods to assist in the "cleaning test" analysis of printed circuit boards and assemblies.
Analysis by ion chromatography (IC) provides cleaning-related data for the specific ionic species selected for testing. Similar to FTIR, some ionic species of interest may cause corrosion or cause electrical performance problems. The data obtained with the IC cleaning test can be used to compare with known requirements, create a "control" process or investigate a broader Fault Analysis issue.
The IC test provides precise qualitative and quantitative determinations regarding the material identification of positively and negatively charged ions. It is widely used in trace analysis of soil, water and drinking water samples to discover contamination. IC is also an effective test in determining halides from pyrohydrolysis extraction.
Ion Chromatography can distinguish and detect trace ionic species and other substances from silicates and carbohydrates to amino and weak organic acids. One of the major advantages of IC is its ability to analyze molecular species rather than focusing on existing elements. With this cleaning test method, it is possible to determine the quality of all kinds of molecular materials and minerals and the purity of everything from food and beverage products to soil and water samples.
As EUROLAB, we pioneer in performing fast, highly reliable Ion Chromatography testing for the following industries:
Using these methods, IC allows the determination of "open" or "in" ionic concentrations on a sample for use in control / characterization studies or tests based on failure analysis.
The tried-and-true ROSE method provides a "quick and easy" determination of general printed circuit board / assembly cleaning "in-line" or simply expressed. ROSE can achieve a “singular” value for evaluators. The ROSE test with a simple resistance (or conductivity) meter provides a quick assessment of overall cleanliness and has been used by process engineers for decades to control and / or process control.
The ROSE cleaning test is typically used as a quality control method in the manufacture of printed cable boards and printed cable assemblies. These special types of electronics are subjected to chemical and mechanical treatments that tend to apply residual stress to the components or somehow change the properties of the materials. When performed by a skilled and experienced technician, the ROSE test can effectively analyze and identify faults or unwanted debris caused by the production process.
ROSE is among the oldest and proven test methods used in the electronics industry. The method involves immersing a sample in isopropanol and deionized water solution at room temperature for variable immersion times of not less than 10 minutes.
As a process control tool, ROSE measures existing conductive materials after printed cable assemblies are processed with resin-based flows.
ROSE is the head of the cleaning test because of its many widely recognized advantages, with no minimum overall total production costs. It has been successfully called for decades and is among the only cleaning tests of its kind that are reliably reliable as a process control tool in a production line environment. Other positive features of the ROSE test include the ability to demonstrate gross levels and non-destructive properties of conductive materials when testing materials that are not IPA or water sensitive.
The industry standard for this analysis is IPC-TM-650 Method 2.3.25 - Detection and Measurement of Ionizable Surface Contaminants with Resistivity (ROSE) of Solvent Extract.
SEM / EDS analysis is typically paired with the FTIR technique described above to investigate an observed pollutant believed to have an inorganic or metallic component. The SEM / EDS technique provides both visual and basic information about an area of interest. While SEM gives a different view of the "unknown" material analyzed, EDS provides basic information. When the SEM / EDS technique is combined, it is commonly used to investigate "failures" and simple "unknown" material to determine the composition and possible origin of the substance.
The combined SEM / EDS testing method, often used to create in-depth, high-resolution images of surface topography, is also valuable in a wide variety of production and engineering processes. Potential applications range from precise visualization of worn copper surfaces to analysis of the composition of metallic commercial products.
It is a highly effective, non-destructive method of surface analysis that is fast, economical and applies itself to numerous applications. This high-tech cleaning test is a powerful form of analysis that can provide basic data in many different ways. Depending on the position of the electron beam, our laboratory can generate localized basic information; It can draw the proportions of the elements determined along a spatial gradient or map the distribution and density of the elements in a sample area.
To get an appointment, to get more detailed information or to request an evaluation, you can ask us to fill in our form and reach you.
EUROLABreporting and certification activities, United Accreditation Foundation (UAF), Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK) ve Enterprise Accreditation Foundation (EAF) based on the accreditation provided by the accreditation body. The Enterprise Accreditation Foundation (EAF) accreditation body is also a signatory of the United Nations (UN GLOBAL COMPACT) organization.
