Guidelines for measuring anionic contamination of Printer Circuit Boards (PCB) and Circuit Assemblies (PCA) using ion chromatography.
- Author(s):
Zou, L, Brewin, A, Hunt, C
- Source:
- Measurement Good Practice Guide No. 76, September 2004
- ISSN:
- 1368-6550
- ISBN:
- NPL Doc. Ref:
- PDB: 4122
- Document Type:
- Guide
- DOI:
Note: An asterisk after an author's name indicates a non-NPL author.
Abstract:
This document provides the procedure to identify the level of anionic contamination residues on printed circuit boards (PCBs) and circuit assemblies (PCAs) using Ion Chromatography (IC). Recommendations for test parameter settings and sample preparation to optimise the IC system performance, are provided. Specific issues relevant to testing PCBs and PCAs (resin content in the flux, and solvent fraction in the extract solution), are discussed. Details are given on achieving robust and stable IC measurements when rosin is present in the extract samples, based on prefiltering. A chemical selective disposable cartridge is used to remove rosin from the sample stage, and an in-line trap column is used to prevent contamination of the analytical column. Since the use of a 75% IPA solution (as recommended in IPC TM650 2.3.28) causes background shift, the use of a low IPA content extraction solution is also strongly recommended, in order to eliminate rosin dissolved in the test samples.
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