Can the Right Solvent Improve Your Yield?

Q: Aren’t solvents flammable and, therefore, dangerous to use in production?
A: Some solvents are flammable. IPA is one of them since it has a flashpoint of 12⁰C, which means it is very dangerous. However most modern solvents are nonflammable and have a higher flashpoint. Generally, you should always look for solvents with a flashpoint higher than 60⁰C.
Q: Are there limitations to using solvents in cleaning electronics?
A: There are no one-size fits all solutions. Solder pastes and flux formulations are constantly changing, and this means today’s solvents may not work on tomorrow’s formulations. The efficiency of a particular solvent will always need to be tested on a particular soil. Also, solvents contain VOCs which evaporate in the atmosphere, which makes them not suitable to use in your standard spray in air heating equipment.
Q: Are solvents more expensive than aqueous products?
A: Typically, yes, solvents are more expensive than your comparable water based products, and also they are used at 100% concentration. This will increase your cost of a bath fill, however, by being able to hold more soil and having a longer bath life and by eliminating the need to rinse and dry, you can save lots of money in your process in the long run.