Electronics > Beginners

IPA gets sticky?!

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ppeterl:
So I soldered this https://www.muffsy.com kit together, and then I cleaned off the solder flux residue with IPA as usual. This time, however, the solder mask, or coating or whatever on the board got all sticky; it lost its glossy finish for a matte one and also got my fingerprints on it. I've noticed the same thing on some vintage circuit boards before as well.

I searched this forum of course for an explanation but got no good hits. What is the recommended way to remove flux on this kind of boards?

cur8xgo:

--- Quote from: ppeterl on June 28, 2019, 09:37:31 pm ---So I soldered this https://www.muffsy.com kit together, and then I cleaned off the solder flux residue with IPA as usual. This time, however, the solder mask, or coating or whatever on the board got all sticky; it lost its glossy finish for a matte one and also got my fingerprints on it. I've noticed the same thing on some vintage circuit boards before as well.

I searched this forum of course for an explanation but got no good hits. What is the recommended way to remove flux on this kind of boards?

--- End quote ---

You didnt clean it properly. Use more IPA, rinse well, use high percentage IPA, etc..etc..

floobydust:
I have the same problem with some chinese made PC boards. IPA seems to attack the solder mask, it loses its shine and goes sticky and dull.
OSH Park boards do this, very annoying. I think the solder mask is cheap and not compatible with IPA, even diluted with water.

The solder  mask seems to be only for water soluble flux.

tooki:
My guess is that it’s also more likely to be flux residue than the solder mask itself softening. If you keep cleaning it, does it eventually get even softer, or does it reach a point where it dries glossy again, especially if you polish it dry with fresh IPA?

Paul Rose:
Agree with cur8xgo and tooki.

You are still dealing with flux, not softened solder mask.

Soft stick residue with fingerprints, etc. is the flux partially dissolved and spread all over the board.

More IPA, stronger IPA, use a brush.  It will eventually come clean.

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