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Brake cleaner is cheap and cleans PCBs really well
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Fraser:
StevetG,

Thanks for the video. Very interesting as I have mainly used IPA for flux cleaning but will get some suitable brake cleaner to try.

Loved your homage sound effect to Eric O  :) I am also a fan of his excellent channel  :-+

Fraser
Gyro:

--- Quote from: BrokenYugo on July 22, 2021, 05:55:00 pm ---I suspect you only hear about accidental phosgene (which is not mustard gas) in welding because a powerful electric arc is about the only place you'll get intense enough heat to break the solvent down to any notable degree before it boils away. IIRC the old CFCs used in board cleaning can do the same thing, but they apparently didn't.

--- End quote ---

Hard to know, the critical temperature is apparently 315'C so I don't know what would happen if you stuck an iron tip at say, 350'C in a little puddle of it (don't think I want to find out). Phosgene was originally synthesized from a mixture of Carbon Monoxide and Chlorine and a bit of sunshine (presumably whatever UV and Blue spectrum that made it through the flask). I don't know if that gives any idea of what sort of energy input is needed, I think they use an activated carbon catalyst these days but no idea about temperatures.

I remember, donkeys years ago when I was at school, they suddenly got very jumpy about Carbon Tetrachloride in the chemistry labs. The lab techs would put buckets of Ammonia around the lab whenever it was being used near sources of heat (Ammonia being about the only thing that neutralises Phosgene in the air). I don't know if it worked, but the smell of those classes was certainly memorable!

Carbon Tetrachloride was of course used in fire extinguishers at one time! I found one is a junk shop just a couple of month ago which still swished when I shook it. Probably quite a rare occurrence - I remember my Dad telling me that during his national service, their main use was for getting grease stains out of uniforms, so they were almost invariably empty when needed!

I never liked organic chemistry. I was hopeless at it too. :D
floobydust:
IPA works fine, just let it soak in a bowl and it works really well. People don't have patience and resort to harsh chemicals.

Brake cleaner is a terrible chemical soup, changed many times over the years. Do your homework and read the MSDS.
Brakleen Brake Parts Cleaner is 80-90% acetone and 1-3% toluene.

Years ago I worked in a shop that used it and one welder got the reaction fumes and taken to hospital. It was quite bad and a big puzzle to figure out how he generated the toxic fumes from his arc. They banned the use of Brakleen after that. It used to be highly carcinogenic.
T3sl4co1l:

--- Quote from: mawyatt on July 22, 2021, 12:30:11 pm ---
--- Quote from: T3sl4co1l on July 22, 2021, 04:27:48 am ---You joke, but

--- End quote ---

IPA is India Pale Ale and high alcohol content and somewhat bitter tasting beer  ;)

--- End quote ---

Yes.... I acknowledged that joke.  Perhaps not specifically enough... :)

Tim
Someone:

--- Quote from: SteveyG on July 22, 2021, 05:15:57 pm ---Also worth pointing out that most car parts vendors will sell it in 5 litre containers. I'd recommend this format as the aerosols dispense surprisingly quickly, too fast for benchtop use.
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Once you're buying 5l can/bottles of flux cleaner the price is low enough that it'd be hard to suggest anything else (cheap compared to the possible damage/rework). Still check the MSDS, many flux cleaners are nasty to biological systems as in humans/rabbits/fish etc.
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