What is non-ionic contamination?
Defining non-ionic contamination
Non-ionic contamination refers to organic residues that do not carry a net charge in solution, such as oils, certain surfactants, silicones, and polymeric residues. They do not respond to conductivity-based cleanliness tests.
Impact on PCB performance
Non-ionic residues can:
-
affect solderability and adhesion of coatings;
-
increase dielectric losses in high-frequency circuits;
-
cause film formation that traps ionic contaminants and moisture.
Detection requires TOC (total organic carbon), FTIR, or solvent-extraction methods. ZESTRON’s analytical labs provide non-ionic contamination testing and removal recommendations.