PCB Blog - How to clean circuit boards and how to prevent circuit board corrosion?

How to clean circuit board?Clean circuit board,also known as circuit board cleaning agent,refers to the chemical industrial cleaning agent used to clean the residual soldering flux and rosin on the surface of PCB circuit boards after welding.

How does a circuit board get dirty?

In daily use,printed circuit boards in electronic products will be exposed to various pollutants,leading to speed and performance issues.There are two main reasons why printed circuit boards become dirty.Firstly,gaps in devices,equipment,or machines may allow dirt and dust to enter.Secondly,large appliances such as computers and cars have cooling fans that can suck dirt, dust,and other types of debris into the machine.Thirdly,the wax used to coat certain components will melt during high-temperature operations,becoming a magnet for dust and dirt. Identifying the types of pollutants and using the correct cleaning circuit board methods can help alleviate this problem.

Why do we need to cleaning circuit board?

Printed circuit boards are an indispensable part of the efficient performance of our electronic products.Therefore,if there is dirt and dust accumulation on these circuit boards,your electronic equipment,equipment,or machine is likely to malfunction.

For example,if your computer motherboard has a large amount of dirt and dust,it may start to slow down or overheat.Therefore,cleaning the motherboard not only helps to remove dirt but also improves the performance of the computer.

Secondly,dust,dirt,moisture,and dirt can cause PCB corrosion,ultimately shortening the lifespan of the machine.Therefore,regular cleaning of polychlorinated biphenyls will help prevent this corrosion and prevent premature damage.

Methods for how to clean circuit board

Various PCB cleaning methods can be used to remove dirt,dust,and dirt from electronic products.The method you will use will depend on the type of pollutant and the type of board.

1.Compressed air

Compressed is an effective PCB cleaner that can remove dust and dirt from printed circuit boards. When using compressed air to cleaning circuit board, make sure to first turn off the device and unplug all cables. Spraying compressed air onto plugged-in or powered-on equipment may cause permanent damage. You may also be electrocuted during this process. Once you have turned off the device and unplugged all cables,you should continue to spray compressed air through the vents. If there is a thick layer of dust,you should turn on your device and spray compressed air directly onto the circuit board.Short-term injection of compressed air can remove residual dirt and make the PCB look clean.The duration of spraying will depend on the amount of dirt and dust present on the circuit board.

2.Soda water

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a powerful PCB cleaning solution that can remove dirt and corrosion while minimizing the risk of damage to circuit boards.Baking soda has mild abrasiveness and alkaline characteristics, which help remove corrosion residues that cannot be removed by regular brushes.It will dissolve the residue while neutralizing acidic corrosive agents. Just like using compressed air, you should first separate the device from all cables.In addition,please ensure that all chips that may have been inserted into the board are removed before cleaning.After disassembling all the cables and chips, you should mix baking soda with water and stir until you have a flowing paste.Then,you should gently apply the paste to all corroded areas of the circuit board with a cotton swab. Place the paste on the circuit board for approximately 24 hours.After 24 hours,you should wipe off the baking soda paste with isopropanol.

3.Distilled water

Unlike other circuit board cleaners such as baking soda and isopropanol,distilled water does not contain ions.Therefore,when you use it to clean circuit boards,it will not damage or reduce the performance of your electronic devices.It should be noted that distilled water is quickly and easily contaminated by dirt,making it useless.Therefore,whenever not in use,it is important to ensure that it is properly sealed to minimize pollution.

4.Ultrasonic PCB cleaning

Ultrasonic clean a pcb can be said to be one of the most effective methods for removing dirt, dust, solder paste, and flux that may remain on circuit boards.In short,this PCB cleaning method can remove almost any form of dirt and dirt,including stubborn residues.And during the cleaning process,the ultrasonic cleaner will not even damage the delicate wooden boards.

When the printed circuit board is immersed in a PCB ultrasonic cleaner,the cleaning process will begin immediately after the liquid comes into contact with the circuit board.Because the fact that the cleaning solution can even reach the smallest cavities and gaps,it can remove all dirt that cannot be manually removed.

Circuit board corrosion is an electrochemical process caused by a number of factors, mainly including the presence of electrolytes, moisture, humidity, flux residues, and so on. These factors cause the metal materials on the PCB, especially copper , to combine with oxygen in the surrounding environment and undergo an oxidizing reaction to form oxides, which may ultimately lead to a reduction in the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of the PCB.

Methods to prevent PCB corrosion

1. Controlled lamination program: In this process, all the layers of the PCB are immediately laminated together, and a hermetic seal is formed between the layers, which prevents water from entering the PCB and causing corrosion.

2. Suitable soldermask: This protects the PCB from damage caused by the environment and also prevents the PCB surface from oxidizing.

3. Anti-static storage bags: prevent electrons from accumulating by stopping the flow of electrons, thus avoiding corrosion.

4. Microencapsulation: Provides an improved form of protection by applying multiple layers of protection on top.

5. Thermal Overmolding: Uses heat and pressure to form a thin, flexible coating on the PCB surface. This involves applying a thermoplastic material to the PCB surface, then heating the PCB plastic and molding it around the PCB.

6. Conformal Coating: Protects against moisture, corrosion and other factors that may degrade quality, applied to exposed and non-exposed areas, and protects against damage caused by water, humidity, air pollution, temperature changes or other factors.

7. Baking: Removes moisture that may be present on the PCB by heating the PCB, helping to prevent corrosion from occurring later.

8. Surface treatment: It improves the circuit's resistance to heat, humidity and other environmental factors, resulting in better performance.

Cleaning circuit board is a necessary step in the production process.This is because, during the manufacturing process of circuit boards, some chemicals, solvents, and other processes are used, which may remain on the surface or inside of the circuit board.These residues may cause unstable performance of the circuit board, such as short circuits, leakage, electrical adhesion, and other issues, thereby affecting the overall quality.At the same time,the cleaning of the circuit board can also remove impurities such as dust, dirt, and oil stains on the surface of the circuit board, making the welding effect of the circuit board better and improving the reliability and stability of the circuit board.Circuit board corrosion is a common problem, mainly caused by humid environment, rusty materials, chemical materials and other factors. And to prevent circuit board corrosion, we can take measures such as keeping it dry, preventing it from being contaminated, using the right amount of chemical materials, using corrosion-resistant materials, and regular inspection and maintenance to ensure that the circuit board works properly.