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Not all electronics assemblies require cleaning.  However, over the past few years, many assemblers have come to realize that using “no clean” (low residue) flux or removing a water soluble flux with water alone or with a mild cleaning agent no longer provides the yield and performance required by the customer. This problem has become more pronounced with densely-populated assemblies and lead-free solders. Defluxing is a critical cleaning process; BFK Solutions are well-established experts in the field of defluxing.

We help clients determine how their current cleaning agents and cleaning equipment can best be adapted to newer assembly designs.  If necessary, we evaluate alternative cleaning agents and cleaning equipment and provide the pros and cons of various options for your applications.  

Electronics assemblies are sometimes incorporated into high-value products, including those for medical, military, and aeronautics use.  Higher standards for defluxing, contamination control, and materials compatibility may be required.  Ed Kanegsberg and Barbara Kanegsberg work with both electronics assemblers and with those involved in final product assembly to assure that quality and performance standards are met or surpassed.

Contract Assembler, New Project Opportunity

A contract assembler had an opportunity for a new aerospace contract requiring traditional, classic RMA fluxes.  We helped the client assess their current assembly and cleaning capabilities as well as the availability and cost of newer cleaning equipment.  This information armed the company with the tools to make an informed decision regarding the proposed project. 

Legacy Systems, Newer Fluxes

A provider of avionics systems requiring exceedingly long-term reliability was concerned because the systems had been designed with and tested based on the attributes of RMA fluxes.  Because of environmental constraints, the suppliers of electronics assemblies had adopted alternative fluxing/defluxing options.  BFK Solutions reviewed the attributes of various fluxes and of various defluxing options.  We also provided an assessment of the potential for ionic and non-ionic residue to impact long-term performance. 

Low-Outgassing Conformal Coatings, Particle Issues 

Electronics assemblies were incorporated into sealed final assemblies. Some of the issues were Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) shielding, low outgassing conformal coating, and minimization of particles. BFK Solutions provided cleaning processes as well as cleanroom and pre-cleanroom processes to minimize particle generation.  We also found vendor options to meet their shielding and coating specification.

Professional activities, electronics assemblies

BFK Solutions has been actively involved in the recent revision of the IPC defluxing handbook.  We are frequent presenters at IPC and SMTA programs.  The second edition of  “Handbook for Critical Cleaning” has been expanded to include a number of chapters dealing with defluxing approaches and with performance issues associated with excess residue on electronics assemblies.