The AquaTherm™ 9300, from Austin American Technology, introduces a new era to batch cleaning.

Forget the limitations of the past and experience a batch system that offers multiple cleaning technologies for capability previously unachieved in a compact footprint. In addition to aqueous and aqueous chemistry-based cleaning, the innovative AquaTherm™ supports process temperature ranges from ambient to 200°F and adds the power of steam. When selected, the onboard steam generator produces hot water vapor to penetrate and soften tough, baked-on flux and paste residue so the standard wash cycle can effectively complete the cleaning process. An intuitive user interface allows the operator to select the type and duration of wash, number of rinse cycles, and duration of the forced-air dry cycle.

Ideal for printed circuit boards, semiconductors, subassemblies and process tooling, the AquaTherm™ brings flexible, unparalleled cleaning performance to the batch process

Additionally the AquaTherm™ 9300 features a chemistry metering pump, de-foamer metering pump, rinse-aid metering pump, and HEPPA filtration. Providing the highest cleanliness standard, allowing the customer to meet and surpass cleanliness requirements.

Thermal Residue Fingerprinting
"During the last 5 years, the processes to remove flux residues especially for lead-free and challenging geometries have demonstrated new cleaning obstacles which have to be overcome. A new methodology has been recently developed to further increase the propensity for successful cleaning. At the core of this method is the thermal identification of the residue matrix. Thermal energy changes the physical state, i.e. transitions between liquid, solid and gas phases. By taking advantage of such specific information during phase transitions, the cleaning process can be tailored to such settings, which in turn increases the cleaning success significantly.

Thermodynamic data from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) will be presented in conjunction with experimental data obtained from subsequent cleaning trials in spray-in-air batch cleaning systems. Flux systems that were investigated during this initial study including rosin-based and No-Clean fluxes. A correlation between phase transition temperatures of reflowed flux residues and optimized cleaning parameters for each flux will be presented.

This approach is revolutionary in that it offers completely new, previously untapped avenues to clean challenging electronic
assemblies. It also offers insight to previously set process limitations on process temperatures that might have to be reconsidered."

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A New Methodology for Defluxing
"Recently the AAT lab did some testing of cleaning chemistries at elevated temperatures approaching 200F using the new AquaTherm™ batch cleaner. The primary purpose of the testing was to determine if wash temperatures above the traditional 130F - 160F range imporve the cleaning characteristics of the batch process.

The second area under evaluation was the use of elevated wash temperatures combined with fresh cleaning chemistry every wash cycle in an open loop wash mode. The AquaTherm™ is the only defluxing system available today that is designed to wash and rinse at temperatures up to 200F. In an open loop configuration, the AquaTherm™ utilizes a precision chemical metering pump to mix the chemistry, with ambient or preheated water, while filling the process chamber.

The third consideration was the use of lower chemistry concentrations at 200F in an open loop wash."

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