Flux Collection and Self-Clean Technique in Reflow Applications

摘要

The flux management system for a reflow oven is highly critical to the quality, cost, and yield of a reflow process. Flux accumulation and dripping inside the oven not only requires frequent maintenance, it can also result in poor quality, low throughput, and safety issues. Understanding that high volume electronics manufacturers do not like downtime for maintenance, this is the driver for continued development of advanced flux management systems that incorporate self-clean features and do not require interruption of production for maintenance activities. This paper will review some basic past and present flux chemistries that affect flux collection methodology. It will also review some of the most common flux collection methods, self-cleaning techniques, and maintenance goals. And, finally, data will be presented from high volume production testing of an advanced flux management system.