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Premium Printed Circuit Board finishing products.

 

We carry a range of cleaning and electro less plating solutions to provide a professional finish in low and mid volume PCB manufacture. Exploiting new techniquCrownhill PCB Chemicalses and patented technology these processes provide the highest quality professional finishes to aid production and reliability.

The base metal conductor used in the fabrication of printed circuit boards is copper. Although copper is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, it is also a very active metal that quickly oxidizes in the presence of air and water. If a copper surface is not coated or treated with a protective agent, the exposed area rapidly becomes unsolderable using conventional assembly processes. For this reason, all printed circuit boards use some form of a surface finish on the exposed pads to which electronic components will be soldered. Abrasive cleaning is too aggressive for many applications with fine pitch tracks on modern circuit boards. Clean immersion tinned printed circuit boards provide perfect conditions for wetting and flowing of modern solders. these processes bring innovative technologies together resulting in unrivalled finishes in low and mid volume production.

The immersion Tin process uses ion displacement reaction to plate the circuit board surface. When the surface metal finish (tin) has been deposited, the source of electrons is used up and the process is complete. The process is self-limiting because the copper forms an intermetallic layer that inhibits the immersion reaction.

Immersion coatings have become popular as circuit densities have increased and the pitch of surface mount technology (SMT) components has decreased. Traditional Hot Air Solder leveling is simply not able to cope witht he fine pitch tracks and small air gaps on modern boards. A flat attachment pad is paramount in achieving a reliable solder joint with fine pitch parts.

Some of these processes utilise hazardous chemicals, users and prospective purchasers should familiarise themselves with the process sheets and safety documents associated with each product on our web site.


Products Available

 

  • EconoClense is a highly effective alkaline soak cleaner which will remove a wide variety of soils including mineral oils, greases, machine oils and lanolin from ferrous metals and copper alloys. Its cleaning action is so powerful that pre-cleaning in chlorinated solvents can be eliminated.
  • MicroEtch (copperwet 1174) a low cost Persulphate based micro etch. Used dissolved in de ionised water at 100g per liter. Cleans and prepares for boards further processing. In stonger concentrations, can be used as a board etch
    • MicroEtch Safety shipped with product
  • Immersion Copper Polish is process designed to quickly polish copper and brass, this non aggressive IMMERSION process brings PCB's to a bright mirror finish without abrasion, leaving copper clad PCB in a highly solderable state providing perfect flow conditions. The bright finish provides an ideal base for Immersion TIN.
  • Immersion Tin - Ormecon CSN7001 a nano-metal, a real life use for nano technology. This Immersion tin process provides fast efficient tinning of copper PCB's. Single dip, room temperature bright tinning - in seconds. Used after copper polish, this tin process will result in board with an ultra bright mirror finish - a 30cm + deep shine! Resulting in a highly solderable anti oxidising finish. Working with modern solders can now be an effortless task with this fast wetting easy flowing finish.



Hazardous Chemicals

 

EconoclenseUK Customers : Customers can select whether to have their order delivered or to collect it. The cost for delivery varies depending upon the amount of chemicals ordered and will be displayed at the end of the on-line ordering process. Hazardous chemical deliveries will be made by a specialist carrier and must be received at the delivery address by a responsible adult and signed for. The cost of re-delivery for whatever reason may be charged extra.

Customers Outside the UK: As the cost for shipping hazardous goods varies from country to country within the European Union we ask customers outside the UK to pay for their goods ex-works and then to pay for the carriage separately once we know the details of your order and can calculate the shipping costs involved. You will be advised of the shipping cost by e-mail which will include instructions how to pay. Alternatively you may prefer to make your own arrangements for collection and shipping.


Safety

 

The above products are for professional use. Material safety data sheets are shipped with all products. Prospective purchasers and users should ensure that they full understand and appreciate the need to follow correct procedures when handling and working with these products, that includes but is not limited to the responsible management of waste, disposal of unused product and shipping / transport of products.

Some of the products contain chemicals that purchasers and users may be familiar with, safety data sheets should still be read and understood, procedures followed and a safety plan generated for these new products.

Here are some links to useful documentation and notes related to safe handling of chemicals.

An abbreviated guide to COSHH from the HSE.

A brief guide to MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) and how to interpret them.

Here is a link to the new EU REACH Regulations on chemical safety.