When white residues suddenly appear on assemblies for unknown reasons, the customer is often confused – and the first idea is often the same: something must be wrong with the cleaner. However, this is only the cause in extremely rare cases. In the majority of cases, there are other causes – but these can be manifold.
In many cases, changes in the assemblies are responsible. Cheaper materials, less development time, or simply a change of supplier can be the cause. A supposedly more favourable offer can also have disadvantages. If the new parts are not compatible with the previous cleaning process, problems arise – not infrequently in the form of white residues. If it is not possible to switch back to the old components, the only option is often process optimisation.
Reasons for white residues
Solder resist mask not completely cured: One reason that often causes white residues is that the solder mask is not completely cured. In this case, water from the cleaning process can accumulate in the material of the solder mask and condense there at room temperature. This can also lead to staining. A solution that is as practical as it is pragmatic: a hot hair dryer, held over the assembly for some time, quickly makes the milky, white residues disappear.
Solder paste change: A change of solder paste is also often responsible for white residues. If the change is made without first consulting the manufacturer of the cleaning media, the cleaner may not be able to optimally remove the new solder paste with the same system settings. Again, if the cleaner is not to be changed, in most cases other parameters will have to be changed.
In principle, however, there are a whole host of reasons why white residues can occur. Other causes include the quality or temperature of the rinse water. However, these problems can also be eliminated by adjusting the parameters or preparing the rinsing medium. If a cleaner has already been used too often, it is sometimes possible to achieve the desired result again by increasing the concentration.
In general, it can be stated that in most cases where complications with white residues occur, good results can be achieved by optimising the process. If a solution to the problem cannot be found in this way, consultation with an experienced solution provider who can analyse each case individually should be the next port of call. A change of cleaner is usually only necessary in the rarest of cases.
The ultimate range for design and repair RS South Africa
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Whether adapting existing systems or maintaining essential equipment, design and repair play a crucial role in ensuring efficiency and longevity.
Read more...Next-generation SPI and AOI series Techmet
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Saki Corporation has launched its next-gen series for SPI and AOI featuring a modular design for enhanced inspection efficiency and automation.
Read more...Yamaha’s Advanced Safety Package eases factory-safety Truth Electronic Manufacturing
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Yamaha Robotics SMT Section has extended availability of the Advanced Safety Package, which contains optional features to elevate printer and mounter safety above and beyond mandatory levels.
Read more...Case Study: Siemens Valor automation solution ASIC Design Services
Editor's Choice Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Electronics manufacturer BMK used Siemens Valor to enhance accuracy and speed up bill-of-materials quotations.
Read more...The factory beat Electronic Industry Supplies
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Change is the only constant across today’s complex manufacturing landscape. The surge of digital transformation, spearheaded by Industry 4.0, has redefined how factories operate, build, and evolve.
Read more...Reliable X-ray inspection system MyKay Tronics
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Inspecting long PCBs that are often used in sectors like telecommunications, automotive, and energy, where high reliability is required, presents several unique challenges.
Read more...G-Tera high-speed SMT printer Techmet
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
The new generation of automatic printing presses from GKG, the all-new G-Tera, is equipped with a 3,0-megapixel LIGHT-Bolt CCD camera, an upgraded conveyor system, and an enhanced printing system.
Read more...Extending AI assistance in AOI Yamaha Motor Europe N.V.
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Artificial Intelligence is renowned for image recognition and classification skills, suggesting a great fit with the objectives of automatic optical inspection.
Read more...Design & Repair range from RS Pro RS South Africa
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
The launch of the new RS PRO Design & Repair range caters to a wide array of industries, including discrete and process manufacturing, energy & utilities, facilities management, and intralogistics.
Read more...The successful development of PCBWay’s 24-layer, 6-order arbitrary interconnection HDI PCB
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
[Sponsored] The so-called interposer PCB is a highly precise, high-layer arbitrary interconnection HDI PCB that serves not only as a critical component for connecting and integrating different electronic components, but also acts as an intermediary layer for chip connections.
printer friendly version