Solvent Extract Conductivity (SEC) uses a mixture of isopropanol (IPA) and DI water to remove soluble contaminants from a sample PCB or PCA. The change in the conductivity of the solution used to wash the assembly provides a measure of the average ionic contamination present on the board.

SEC testing does not show the distribution of contamination, or the effects of any non-ionic residue and the result can be dependent on the components density of board and extraction efficiency.

The sensitivity of this technique can be improved by using a one-hour extraction at 80°C, increasing the sensitivity of measurement several-fold.

Using the SIR measurement technique is recommended for a more detailed investigation than SEC testing.

Common applications:

• Testing cleanliness to MIL-Spec, IPC and other standards
• Process control for cleaning lines
• Cost-effective assessment technique for ranking cleaning processes

Contact

Customer Service tel: +44 20 8943 8681
E-mail: materials_enquiries@npl.co.uk