What are the required cleanliness levels of printed circuit boards, and how will contamination ultimately affect the long-term reliability of electronic assemblies? This is one of the hot topics in electronics manufacturing. So, how clean is clean? A critical factor to consider is what level of product reliability is required. Answering this question is complex and requires detailed examination. Numerous methodologies for assessing PCB cleanliness are common practice within the industry. They range from rapid tests that detect only certain types of contamination to more complex methods that are subject to the latest IPC testing standards. All are useful tools for qualitative and quantitative assessments. Which to use is a matter of preference and, of course, the process quality standards and product reliability requirements set forth by the end-customer or OEM.
展开▼
