Just finished a VOC-FREE FLUX Evaluations

Hi Folks. Has any Process Engineer here done a complete evaluation or controlled experiment for VOC-FREE Flux? Our goal here at CEBUKid, Inc. is to implement a VOC-FREE process. We have all the necessary (OPTIFLUX) spray equipment, and we're currently using an ALCOHOL-BASED no-clean flux.

Anyone who has experience with this, what approach did you take...did you do it via a controlled experiment?? (I.E. same parameters, same PCB, etc.) and just compare results across the board (use WAVE SOLDER QUALITY AND DEFECT RATES AS YOUR RESPONSE VAR)? HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!! thanks.

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| Hi Folks. Has any Process Engineer here done a complete evaluation or controlled experiment for VOC-FREE Flux? Our goal here at CEBUKid, Inc. is to implement a VOC-FREE process. We have all the necessary (OPTIFLUX) spray equipment, and we're currently using an ALCOHOL-BASED no-clean flux. | | Anyone who has experience with this, what approach did you take...did you do it via a controlled experiment?? (I.E. same parameters, same PCB, etc.) and just compare results across the board (use WAVE SOLDER QUALITY AND DEFECT RATES AS YOUR RESPONSE VAR)? HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!! thanks. | I have been involved in several evaluations. The most difficult aspect of VOC systems seems to be getting an even spray and an appropriate preheat. In addition, I generally recommend using a nitrogen blanket with VOC free fluxes. In fact, I know of no VOC-free user that does not have a nitrogen blanket and is getting equal yields to traditional fux systems. Best of luck.

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| Hi Folks. Has any Process Engineer here done a complete evaluation or controlled experiment for VOC-FREE Flux? Our goal here at CEBUKid, Inc. is to implement a VOC-FREE process. We have all the necessary (OPTIFLUX) spray equipment, and we're currently using an ALCOHOL-BASED no-clean flux. | | Anyone who has experience with this, what approach did you take...did you do it via a controlled experiment?? (I.E. same parameters, same PCB, etc.) and just compare results across the board (use WAVE SOLDER QUALITY AND DEFECT RATES AS YOUR RESPONSE VAR)? HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!! thanks. | And I mean just finished it. The report isn't complete yet or I'd send it.

We were using VOC-free flux in an Econopak with OptiFluxer, convection preheat, and nitrogen around our waves.

We took the two most difficult to solder boards - one with an OSP that had long passed its shelf life, and another with bad orientation on a transformer (that loved to bridge) and glossy mask that liked to ball. We figured that if we could get good results with these, we could solder anything our developers threw at us.

Other technical criteria included topside wetting, tacky residue, & cleanliness. We weeded the pack down to two fluxes. Then they went to the shop floor for a week at a time. Among the 25 criteria out there on the floor were volatilization at the wave, residue on pallets, ease of cleaning the equipment, just about anything any operator at the wave, finals, or test could think of.

The tie between the top two contenders was hard to break. We went back and forth for over a month before reaching a verdict by a 3:2 ratio.

The ultimate winner in this photo finish was Alpha NR-310-B2. The oh-so-close second place was Heraeus Surf 11. Both fine products. We have approved both of them for production use in our plant.

If you email me in early February, and you can convince me that you are an information-seeking engineer and not a salesman trying to technologically damn your compettition, I'll send you a copy of the report.

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| | Hi Folks. Has any Process Engineer here done a complete evaluation or controlled experiment for VOC-FREE Flux? Our goal here at CEBUKid, Inc. is to implement a VOC-FREE process. We have all the necessary (OPTIFLUX) spray equipment, and we're currently using an ALCOHOL-BASED no-clean flux. | | | | Anyone who has experience with this, what approach did you take...did you do it via a controlled experiment?? (I.E. same parameters, same PCB, etc.) and just compare results across the board (use WAVE SOLDER QUALITY AND DEFECT RATES AS YOUR RESPONSE VAR)? HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!! thanks. | | | And I mean just finished it. The report isn't complete yet or I'd send it. | | We were using VOC-free flux in an Econopak with OptiFluxer, convection preheat, and nitrogen around our waves. | | We took the two most difficult to solder boards - one with an OSP that had long passed its shelf life, and another with bad orientation on a transformer (that loved to bridge) and glossy mask that liked to ball. We figured that if we could get good results with these, we could solder anything our developers threw at us. | | Other technical criteria included topside wetting, tacky residue, & cleanliness. We weeded the pack down to two fluxes. Then they went to the shop floor for a week at a time. Among the 25 criteria out there on the floor were volatilization at the wave, residue on pallets, ease of cleaning the equipment, just about anything any operator at the wave, finals, or test could think of. | | The tie between the top two contenders was hard to break. We went back and forth for over a month before reaching a verdict by a 3:2 ratio. | | The ultimate winner in this photo finish was Alpha NR-310-B2. The oh-so-close second place was Heraeus Surf 11. Both fine products. We have approved both of them for production use in our plant. | | If you email me in early February, and you can convince me that you are an information-seeking engineer and not a salesman trying to technologically damn your compettition, I'll send you a copy of the report. | Chrys,

Please allow me to be among the thousands seeking to take advantage of your offer. I will be doing the same study at my new contract company. My old stuff may be too old (1997-1998).

Also, have a question about VOC no clean with OSP as I've never used it with anything but metal coated surface finishes. OSP is organic and really VOC free stuff is water based, or close to it (IPA). The question concerns compatibility. I mean, does water based conflict in any way with organic coatings?

Thanks,

Earl Moon

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| | Hi Folks. Has any Process Engineer here done a complete evaluation or controlled experiment for VOC-FREE Flux? Our goal here at CEBUKid, Inc. is to implement a VOC-FREE process. We have all the necessary (OPTIFLUX) spray equipment, and we're currently using an ALCOHOL-BASED no-clean flux. | | | | Anyone who has experience with this, what approach did you take...did you do it via a controlled experiment?? (I.E. same parameters, same PCB, etc.) and just compare results across the board (use WAVE SOLDER QUALITY AND DEFECT RATES AS YOUR RESPONSE VAR)? HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!! thanks. | | | And I mean just finished it. The report isn't complete yet or I'd send it. | | We were using VOC-free flux in an Econopak with OptiFluxer, convection preheat, and nitrogen around our waves. | | We took the two most difficult to solder boards - one with an OSP that had long passed its shelf life, and another with bad orientation on a transformer (that loved to bridge) and glossy mask that liked to ball. We figured that if we could get good results with these, we could solder anything our developers threw at us. | | Other technical criteria included topside wetting, tacky residue, & cleanliness. We weeded the pack down to two fluxes. Then they went to the shop floor for a week at a time. Among the 25 criteria out there on the floor were volatilization at the wave, residue on pallets, ease of cleaning the equipment, just about anything any operator at the wave, finals, or test could think of. | | The tie between the top two contenders was hard to break. We went back and forth for over a month before reaching a verdict by a 3:2 ratio. | | The ultimate winner in this photo finish was Alpha NR-310-B2. The oh-so-close second place was Heraeus Surf 11. Both fine products. We have approved both of them for production use in our plant. | | If you email me in early February, and you can convince me that you are an information-seeking engineer and not a salesman trying to technologically damn your compettition, I'll send you a copy of the report. |

Do you have the write-up ready, Chrys? If so, it would help tremendously.

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