Resource Library

Are MicroCare Products Safe or Hazardous?

There is no standardized “cert” about hazards and safety but, in general, the MicroCare cleaners are just about as safe as you can get. Their exact performance is documented on the Product Specs and on the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) prepared for every cleaning fluid. For European customers, all MicroCare products are REACH registered for safety. Let’s take…

Does MicroCare Have Any Replacements for HCFC-225?

HCFC-225 was an “Class II” ozone-depleting substance and is no longer made in the USA or Japan. In the 1980s, in response to the depletion of the ozone layer, more than 100 nations worked together on a treaty called “the Montreal Protocol.” This treaty set the rules for eliminating ozone-depleting substances around the globe. The first…

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…

Which Is the Mildest MicroCare Cleaner?

Companies seek mild cleaners for many reasons, but the most common issue is materials compatibility. Strong cleaners deliver great results and clean quickly, but may attack soft plastics, rubber, conformal coatings or remove inks. If this are a concern, then you need for a cleaner with a low Kb value that will not dissolve, craze or attack…

Which Cleaner Works Best on Lead-Free Fluxes and Pastes?

Lead-free fluxes and pastes are difficult to clean. They are soldered at higher temperatures and the residues become “cured” and hard to remove. You need real muscle for age-hardened lead-free fluxes, even no-clean lead-free products.For best results, try Lead-Free Flux Remover – PowerClean™ (#MCC-PW2). This is the strongest of the nonflammable, fast-drying solvents because it contains a large proportion…

Which Cleaner is Best at Removing Conformal Coatings?

Conformal coatings are challenging. First, they are designed to be very durable and hard to remove. Then, there are many, many different types of coatings, and many are old formulations which require old solvent which are no longer widely acceptable. Let’s take a look at some good choices for more common applications:Silicone CoatingsDow Corning and…