What Flat Wipes (Lint-Free Dry Wipes) Does MicroCare Offer?

MicroCare offers a full line of lint-free wipes. These range in size from 1×2 inches (2×5 cm) to 12×16 inches (30x40cm). Other options include different types of paper or fabric, different packaging, clean room packaging, sealed edges for reduced linting, and even prewashed options. Custom sizes also are available. All this means you get faster, safer, cheaper cleaning — and better quality — all at the same time. The full list of choices for these strong, flat, sheet wipes can be a little complex, but in general they are engineered for the toughest cleaning applications. Flat Wipe Specifications There are many factors to consider when selecting a flat wipe . Here’s a brief description of the specifications and their implications: Material. This describes the type of fiber and method of manufacturing used in the material. The wipes come in three basic classes. First, there are the nonwoven, hydroentangled fabrics which are very clean and very strong. Since they are made without glues or binders they don’t leave residues on the surface being cleaned. The second category includes the knitted materials, usually polyester, which can be very clean and strong. The last category includes foam wipes, cotton wipes and other miscellaneous wipes for more specialized applications. Weight. The heavier the weight the stronger and more absorptive the wipe will be. Pre- Washed. Some fabrics can be pre-washed in a giant washing machine. This eliminates loose fiber and dust and, while adding cost, makes the wipes cleaner. Edges. Shredded fibers on the edges of a wipe can deposit contamination. The best (cleanest) process is to seal the edges with heat. Particulate. This is a standardized lab test of cleanliness. Lower scores are cleaner. The result is stated as the number of particles or fibers greater than one-half micron in size, per square meter. Absorbency. This is another standardized lab test. Higher scores are better. The result is stated as the amount of liquid, usually water, absorbed by one square meter of the fabric. ESD-Packaging. Some customers require their wipes to be packaged in ESD-safe wrappings. This is a good idea in static- sensitive areas, but it adds to the cost. Not normally used for stencil wiping, for example. Packed in a Clean Room. For maximum cleanliness, some of the MicroCare wipes are cut and packaged in a clean room environment. Normally these wipes are used in sensitive aerospace applications. Clean Room Packaged. Many customers require their wipes to be packaged in the double-bag clean room style packaging. In this instance, the outer bag is used for shipping and is removed prior to moving the products into the clean room. On a side note, please remember that solder paste is made with lead, and skin contact with lead is not recommended. Users should be using gloves which protect them from contact with the lead. These are made by a number of different firms, and engineers should check that the gloves are comfortable, powder-free, ESD-safe and inexpensive. MicroCare does not provide solvent-safe gloves. MicroCare also offers stencil rolls for automated understencil cleaning and presaturated wipes .

What’s the Best Way to Dry a PCB on the Benchtop?

There are four steps to successfully cleaning PCBs (printed circuit boards). Wet, scrub, rinse and dry . The wet, scrub and rinse operations are obvious. Wet the board with a pure cleaning fluid. Scrub it using a good quality scrubbing brush. Then rinse it off with more clean fluid. However, the dry step is often overlooked or in some instances, completely left out of the PCB cleaning plan. For reliable performance, circuit boards must not only be clean, they must be dry in order to function properly. Leftover moisture on a PCB surface can lead to a host of problems including corrosion, electrochemical migration, delamination, dendrite growth, pin holes and blow holes and adhesion problems with conformal coatings later in production. Modern PCBs often have bottom termination components like land grid arrays and QFN (quad-flat no-leads) with very tight standoff heights. Moisture can get trapped under these components, making drying even more complicated. There are different ways to dry to ensure printed circuit boards are not only clean, but also dry for optimum reliability and performance. Capture the excess spray of cleaning fluid on a circuit board or gently pushing the wipe under low-surface mounted components, wipes are a quick and effective way to dry the PCB without leaving lint or fuzz behind. There are many factors to consider when selecting a lint-free drying wipe including absorbency, material and packaging. Manual Cleaning & Drying with Wipes and Dusters One of the most commonly used methods technicians use to dry PCBs during benchtop cleaning is a simple lint-free wipe . Whether using it to capture the excess spray of cleaning fluid on a circuit board or gently pushing the wipe under low-surface mounted components, wipes are a quick and effective way to dry the PCB without leaving lint or fuzz behind. There are many factors to consider when selecting a lint-free drying wipe including absorbency, material and packaging. The most important factor when choosing a drying wipe is the ability of the wipe to absorb the type of moisture encountered. For example, some wipes will absorb cleaning fluids, but they will not absorb water. The key is to match the type of wipe absorbency to the contamination to be removed. The material makeup or the type of fiber used to make the wipe is also important. Nonwoven wipes, since they are made without glues or binders, don’t leave residue on the surface being cleaned, resulting in a cleaner PCB. Another way to limit re-contamination to the PCB is to choose pre-washed wipes or wipes with finished or heat-sealed edges. This eliminates loose fibers and dust, ultimately leaving the printed circuit board cleaner. For some benchtop post reflow (rework) assembly a good drying method is to use a dust remover . A quick blast of from a duster can be effective at blowing trapped moisture from underneath larger components that a wipe alone might not reach. The dust remover can be targeted to a very small area on the PCB and works extremely well in getting into and under intricate and hard-to-reach nooks and crannies on the circuit board. Using a duster in combination with a wipe doubles the drying power and prevents the fluid from being pushed back onto on the board and spreading contaminant around. When selecting a duster to use for a drying application, safety is key. Inexpensive canned air is readily available from a number of retail outlets. However, many of these formulations may pose a hazard due to their high flammability ratings. A safer alternative is to select a dust remover that is made with nonflammable gas. A 360° type of dust remover also adds drying convenience since the can operates at any angle, even upside down, allowing operators the flexibility to quickly dry very complex or intricate PCBs. Using the duster may take a little bit of practice, but once the operator understands the velocity of the high-purity gas, the moisture can be blown away quickly and efficiently with no residue left behind.

Wipes, General Purpose, Heavy Duty, 6 x 6

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Product Information

This heavy duty wipe is perfect for heavy-duty, non-abrasive applications

Applications:

PCB manufacturing, rework and repair
General cleaning

Features:

Smooth, bulky and soft - will not scratch surfaces
Non-woven 100% polyester
No glues or binders ensure purity
Standard weight
Strong and lint-free, will not leave fuzz behind
Medium absorbency
Standard plastic packaging
6' x 6' (15 x 15 cm)

Learn more about the differences of cleaning wipes here.

Product Details

Product Image	Part Number	Package	Weight	Size	Technical Data Sheet	Safety Data Sheet
	W66CP W66CP	300 Sheets/Bag		15 cm x 15 cm 6 in x 6 in	TDS USA (ENGLISH) (opens in a new tab) Spanish (opens in a new tab)

Part Number	W66CP
Package	300 Sheets/Bag
Weight
Size	15 cm x 15 cm 6 in x 6 in
Technical Data Sheet	TDS

Safety Rating	NA
Absorbancy	322 mL/m2
Basis Weight	2.0 oz.
Color	White
Edges	Cut, but not sealed
Material	Polyester hydroentangled; no glues
Packaging Note	300 Sheets/Bag, 12 Bags/Case
Particulate	0.1
Surface/Texture	Smooth

All Electronics Cleaning Wipes Are Not Created Equal

Product Information

Applications:

Features:

Product Details

Technical Data Sheet

Electronics