Circuit board Ultrasonic Cleaning fluid - which is the safest?

[SolderSucker]

I recently placed an order for an ultrasonic cleaner but am still debating which cleaning fluid to order.

I had initially thought of this one:

https://www.shesto.co.uk/craft-model-and-hobby/ultrasonics/cleaning-scleaning-solutionolution/shesto-ultrasonic-cleaner-solution-for-flux-remover-pcb/

but on reading the precautions there's the usual gubbins about not getting it on your skin, very damaging to your eyes, etc.

Is there a 'safer' flux cleaning solution for ultrasonic cleaners or are they all roughly the same?

I'm okay with being cautious around such things but I need to place the cleaner itself in my work room so am also wary of fumes (I have a fume extractor for soldering).


I use a No Clean Flux (Amtech NC-559-V2-TF) which, even when cleaned with Isopropyl Alcohol 99% and a brush, still leaves a slightly sticky residue, hence me buying an ultrasonic cleaner to get the boards nice and clean.

I'm in the UK if that helps regarding any recommended flux cleaning fluids.

Thanks

[rbm]

You could research and maybe try out watch cleaning fluids from L&R available through online stores such as Cousins.  These should be safer as they are formulated to clean sensitive watch parts.

[james_s]

Even non-toxic cleaners like Simple Green and Oil Eater are bad to get on your skin or in your eyes. They wash the oil right out of your skin and dry it out. If I get it on my hands it dries out my fingers so badly that my cuticles crack and bleed.

I mostly use Oil Eater diluted in water in my ultrasonic cleaner and it works quite well although I don't think it would remove flux. I've never actually bought anything specifically made for the purpose but it will probably offer some advantages.

[SolderSucker]

Thanks for the replies, sounds like there's no really 'safe' way to clean the flux from PCBs then.

[FRR]

I use Branson EC. Works great.

[SolderSucker]

I use Branson EC. Works great.

From reading the safety sheet that sounds just as hazardous as all the rest.

Besides that, it's banned in the UK.

[walkeryyj]

Fire issues aside, is Iso safe (with respects to the PCB)?

In the same boat as well, just about to fire up a production run and want one final cleaning step before potting.

[helius]

Isopropyl alcohol will not damage boards, but it has limited ability to remove ionic contaminants. Special purpose ultrasonic cleaners will contain morpholinium or TEA compounds with the ability to chelate metal salts (corrosion).

[walkeryyj]

Any thoughts if something like this would be ok?
https://www.mgchemicals.com/products/cleaning-products-for-electronics/cleaners/electronic-cleaners/liquid-electronic-cleaners/safety-wash-liquid-4050

Again fire issues...

[coppercone2]

a real solution to this would be to build a closed thing that condenses any vapor or to put it inside of a cabinet with a door that seals small to a ventilation hood.

you want to look up something called face velocity.

The way to test is to burn something that makes alot of smoke inside of the cabinet and see if any escapes while the fan is on.

If you are really worried or if its hazardous you are supposed to use a stainless duct that is designed for such a way that you can put spray nozzles in it to wash the surfaces and collect the waste water to put some kind of washing procedure on it, but normally its only done with explosive substances that can accumulate in vents or seriously toxic shit.

if you put a condenser and filter before the duct the duct will get less dirty. waste disposal is a tricky thing to deal with.

it also slowly removes escaped vapors so you can't get a high concentration for fire or explosions.

I always wanted to eventually move up to a hood I can solder in. you need to engineer a solution like with everything else though...

consider this diagram to see what poor engineering of a hood does
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Fume_hood_airflow_with_body.png/800px-Fume_hood_airflow_with_body.png

[Fraser]

I purchased my Ultrasonic Cleaning Fluid from Allendale Ultrasonics in the UK.

They supply quality cleaning solutions including one specifically designed for Flux removal and Electronic PCB cleaning.

https://www.allendale-ultrasonics.co.uk/

Page is here....

https://www.allendale-ultrasonics.co.uk/flux-remover-ultrasonic-solution-5-litre.html

Datasheet including hazards is here.....

https://www.allendale-ultrasonics.co.uk/docs/ultra/us-so-flu-solution.pdf

I bought that Fluid and have not had any issues with it and no nasty outgasing or odours. It is blue in colour and clearly identified on the 'solution' page as a flux cleaner.

I am using the cleaning solution at 60C in a professional swept frequency Ultrasonic cleaning tank.

Fraser

[SolderSucker]

Many thanks for the info - that cleaning fluid looks like it's also sold by Fanell but under the name of Shesto - I base this on looking at the data sheets. Here's the Fanell product page:

https://uk.farnell.com/shesto/utflu05/cleaner-flux-remover-can-5l/dp/2759032?MER=sy-me-pd-mi-acce

and the datasheet:

http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/2283618.pdf


You mention no outgasing or odours, would you say that it's safe to use in an ultrasonic cleaner placed in a relatively small room - so no risk of build-up of odours or harmful gases?

[Fraser]

I run mine in our conservatory for convenience and my wife has yet to complain of any smell or other issues like watering eyes that you often get with chemical outgasing. It seems a very user friendly solution and I think the chemical warnings are most likely applicable mainly to the concentrated fluid as the dilution of 10:1 is significant. You obviously would not drink or bathe in it though 

Fraser

[SolderSucker]

Cheers, sounds good to me.