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MEK to Remove Solder Mask from PCB

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rdl:
These days almost all industrial coatings are "cross-linked" or polymerized in some way and are very resistant to solvents once they have reacted. Used to be it was referred to as thermoset vs. thermoplastic, but modern curing mechanisms often require little or no heat (UV for instance). The only significant industrial (oem) use of "thermoplastic" coatings I can think of off the top of my head are nitrocellulose lacquers for musical instruments, primarily guitars.

AJ3G:
I did not give up, but Lye has worked for the boards I am working with. Feel free to take the thread, I will be glad to see where this goes.

duak:
Paint stripper containing Methylene Chloride took off the solder masks I tried it on.  Using a non-polymer brush that won't dissolve in the paint stripper, a uniform coat is applied that foams up and holds the active stuff and crud in place.  I've found the process to be quite controllable.

Most "safe" strippers are lye based (Sodium Hydroxide - NaOH) eg. 3M's Safest Stripper probably won't touch the solder mask but will do a number on any metal.

Trichloroethane also works well but is hard to get in small quanities.  It also cleans off most inks.   Dry cleaners often use Perchloroethane but I don't know if it works on solder masks.

magic:
Another piece of the same board went into DCM. Five days later thickness increased to 1.8mm, rigidity decreased and I could relatively easily separate it into layers.

However, solder mask is still intact and adheres well to copper. Silkscreen too :-//
Maybe the DCM paint stripper contained something more or we have different solder masks.

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