Electronics > Beginners
What can I use to clean a PCB?
Veteran68:
Corrosion from liquid exposure that's not dried off is a very real thing with tightly enclosed electronics with minimal internal airflow. If it's a mostly open PCB then it will probably evaporate before causing much corrosion, but inside an enclosure corrosion from liquid is very common and nasty.
Just watch Louis Rossman or Jessa Jones on YouTube repairing MacBooks and iDevices that have been exposed to liquids. The corrosion can be horrible and destroys components and connections. Devices can "survive" the initial exposure and seem fine for awhile, until corrosion sets in and causes component failure.
I would think that Isopropyl Alcohol would be readily available in any country. For electronics/lab work look for the 99% concentration if you can find it. Lab & cleaning supply places should carry it, as does Amazon. Our local WalMarts here carries 91% if that's the best you can get. The typical medical grade 70% IPA has added water and sometimes additives to prolong evaporation and reduce drying the skin so it's generally discouraged.
I have "rescued" liquid-exposed electronics (phones, remote controls, etc.) by submerging in IPA for several hours or overnight. The IPA gets into all the tight spaces and displaces the water, then evaporates quickly when exposed to air.
ELS122:
--- Quote from: Veteran68 on January 13, 2020, 02:30:39 pm ---Corrosion from liquid exposure that's not dried off is a very real thing with tightly enclosed electronics with minimal internal airflow. If it's a mostly open PCB then it will probably evaporate before causing much corrosion, but inside an enclosure corrosion from liquid is very common and nasty.
Just watch Louis Rossman or Jessa Jones on YouTube repairing MacBooks and iDevices that have been exposed to liquids. The corrosion can be horrible and destroys components and connections. Devices can "survive" the initial exposure and seem fine for awhile, until corrosion sets in and causes component failure.
I would think that Isopropyl Alcohol would be readily available in any country. For electronics/lab work look for the 99% concentration if you can find it. Lab & cleaning supply places should carry it, as does Amazon. Our local WalMarts here carries 91% if that's the best you can get. The typical medical grade 70% IPA has added water and sometimes additives to prolong evaporation and reduce drying the skin so it's generally discouraged.
I have "rescued" liquid-exposed electronics (phones, remote controls, etc.) by submerging in IPA for several hours or overnight. The IPA gets into all the tight spaces and displaces the water, then evaporates quickly when exposed to air.
--- End quote ---
Well I’m not saying that corrosion is rare or anything, I’m saying that I have been really lucky with it for me. Also I’ve left steel screws soaked in soapy water for a week on accident and they didn’t rust at all. They were not coated in anything.
Ian.M:
In an emergency, if you've got nothing better to clean a spill from a valuable PCB, even a 40% ethanol solution is better than just water, so use Vodka, Grappa or other unflavoured, unsweetened white potable spirits! You still need to dry it thoroughly in a warm place with good airflow, due to the high water content.
Nominal Animal:
In electronics and computer stores, look for PRF IPA Kontakt or AG Termopasty Kontakt cleaner; it's pure isopropyl alcohol. At least liveshop.lv in Rīga sells it in a liter canister, which should last you years. There are several web shops who have it in spray form.
I use acetone, as it's cheap and easily available here. Use the pure stuff, as nail polish removers often have some kind of soap and scents. Check auto parts and paint stores. Got a half-liter bottle almost ten years ago, used for both electronics and removing heat sink compound from processors and heat sinks, and I've still got half of it left.
Acetone does not damage PCBs or the components, and is commonly used as a PCB cleaner. Just ventilate well, the fumes are not healthy.
(When I started using flux, and acetone with an old toothbrush to clean my "soldering" work, it made a huge difference in the results; looks half decent! Borrowing a saying from welders, "flux and cleaning makes me the solderer I ain't".)
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