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The future of the oil and gas industry won’t be found in giant unexplored reservoirs in remote parts of the world. The real future of the industry will be found in using smarter electronics in down-hole tools. For years, oil-field engineers have demanded ever-smarter down-hole tools, but many are unaware of the underlying technologies that…

All electronics wipes are not created equal. To ensure cleanliness standards are kept within a cleanroom environment, wipes are an essential tool. They need to meet exacting criteria, especially when in a controlled environment.  Any contamination must be eliminated from both the items being manufactured and from the manufacturing tools and equipment themselves. Wipes play…

With modern electronics getting smaller and more complex, finding a reliable cleaning method that is both effective and compatible with the different materials of the electrical equipment can be a difficult task. The smallest contaminant can form a barrier between contacts and parts, or initiate dendritic growth affecting the device’s efficiency and performance. This is…

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…

The cleaning strength of a PCB cleaner is frequently measured using an industry benchmark called the Kauri Butanol (Kb) value. A higher Kb value is usually better and means the cleaner is more aggressive. But there are trade-offs. For instance, stronger solvents can have compatibility problems with plastics, coatings, inks and other components. So, smart…

PCBs (printed circuit boards) are subjected to many harsh environmental conditions. This includes extreme temperatures, strong chemicals, corrosive salts, dust and moisture. Therefore, encapsulating them with a protective conformal coating makes sense. Conformal coatings keep harmful elements from touching the delicate components and degrading the performance of the boards. However, for optimum PCB longevity, functionality…