General > General Technical Chat
Brake cleaner is cheap and cleans PCBs really well
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John B:
If I was to substitute automotive cleaners for electronics use - and I probably wouldn't - mass airflow sensor cleaner may be a safer choice. They are designed to be sprayed on electronic components and plastic.
amyk:

--- Quote from: Gyro on July 22, 2021, 04:15:16 pm ---I thought the Chlorinated ones were banned these days. :-\

Just in case people aren't aware, aside from the general toxicity at room temperature, they decompose to Phosgene gas when heated above 315'C. That's in soldering iron territory!

There have been well documented cases of people doing welding on vehicles, where residues of Chlorinated brake cleaner have been present, seriously gassing themselves, eg. https://www.brewracingframes.com/safety-alert-brake-cleaner--phosgene-gas.html

It would be really easy for residues of liquid brake cleaner to still be lurking under IC packages when you get the iron out to touch up a joint.

--- End quote ---
For a very long time, a "leak detector torch" was used to detect CFC refrigerants - essentially noticing the change of colour of a flame to show that it was present. They always came with warnings not to breathe the products of combustion, but I wonder how many got poisoned by it. You might still find old refrigeration techs using them today...

Most chlorinated solvents are volatile enough that not much will be left after a short time at normal room temperature. In fact, that's why they're used.
tom66:
To be honest Fluxclene from Electrolube isn't expensive (9.70 GBP ex tax for 400ml in an aerosol) - a bit more than brake cleaner but absolutely safe on every PCB component I've used and very effective at making a PCB look 'brand new' even after rework.
Monkeh:

--- Quote from: tom66 on July 23, 2021, 06:44:54 pm ---To be honest Fluxclene from Electrolube isn't expensive (9.70 GBP ex tax for 400ml in an aerosol) - a bit more than brake cleaner but absolutely safe on every PCB component I've used and very effective at making a PCB look 'brand new' even after rework.

--- End quote ---

You have a strange definition of not expensive for a blend of cyclohexane, isopropanol, and heptane. Electrolube are laughing to the bank with that stuff. Oh, there's a bit of antifreeze in it too.
T3sl4co1l:
If you're not buying them by the barrel, plus it's packed in an aerosol can, I fail to see how that's at all atypical retail markup.

Tim
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