PCB corrosion is caused by many different factors, such as:

* Atmospheric corrosion

* Localized corrosion

* electric corrosion

* Electrolytic corrosion

* Electrolytic dendrite formation

* Fretting corrosion

* Intergranular corrosion

Circuit board corrosion can be extremely harmful to printed circuit boards, and while there are many reasons for PCB corrosion, there are several ways to clean them using traditional household products such as baking soda and compressed air.

Precautions can also be taken to ensure that PCB corrosion does not occur in the future.

What causes PCB corrosion?

Circuit board corrosion may be harmful to completely destroying the PCB, thus rendering it useless. This corrosion can be caused by a variety of causes. It is an oxidation process that occurs when oxygen combines with the metal and causes rust and spalling.

Atmospheric corrosion

Atmospheric corrosion, the most common type of PCB corrosion, involves the metal being exposed to moisture, which in turn exposes it to oxygen. The combination of these elements causes reactions in which metal ions bond with oxygen atoms to form oxides.

Atmospheric corrosion occurs mainly on copper assemblies. Although copper retains its mechanical properties even when corroded, it does not retain its electrical conductivity.

Local corrosion

Local corrosion is similar to any type of general corrosion, except that it mainly affects a limited area or a small area. This corrosion may include filamentous corrosion, crevice corrosion and pitting corrosion.

Electric corrosion

This type of corrosion occurs at the locations of various metals and electrolytes, where the corrosion-resistant metal corrodes more quickly than the base metal to which it is exposed.

Electrolytic corrosion

Electrolytic corrosion occurs when the dendrite grows due to contact traces. This increase occurs when contaminated ionic water enters the voltage between the two traces. Turns out the metal strip caused a short circuit.

Electrolytic dendrite formation

Electrolytic dendrite formation occurs when there is ion contamination in water. This deformation will cause any adjacent copper traces with different voltages to grow metal strips, which will eventually lead to a short circuit between traces.

Micro corrosion

Fretting is the result of continuously turning off the tinning switch. This movement produces a wiping action that eventually removes the oxide layer from the surface. When this happens, the layer beneath it oxidizes and forms excessive rust that interferes with the operation of the switch.

Intergranular corrosion

This final corrosion involves the presence of chemicals at the grain boundaries of the copper trace, and corrosion occurs because the grain boundaries are more susceptible to corrosion due to their higher impurity content.

How to remove corrosion on PCB?

Over time, more than corrosion can accumulate on your PCB. Dirt, dust and dirt of all kinds easily get into your electronic devices. Cleaning them can help prevent corrosion. However, if you detect that the PCB has corroded, you can learn how to remove the corrosion and use the following methods to avoid permanent damage.

Use compressed air

Compressed air is a fairly common tool for electronic cleaning. You can use compressed air by releasing short pulses into the interior of the vent. This cleaning method is recommended for routine electronic care, so if you want to deal with corrosion, you will need to turn on the electronics and hit them at the source.

Use baking soda

Baking soda is a highly effective ingredient for removing PCB corrosion. Not only that, but your kitchen cabinets probably already contain baking soda. Because baking soda is moderately abrasive, you can use it to scrub away corrosion and residue that won’t be released by compressed air. Try using it with a mild brush and distilled water.

Use distilled water

Speaking of distilled water, this product is also a good way to safely and easily remove corrosion from circuit boards. The purest distilled water will not degrade or damage your electronics. It’s also a terrible conductor, so there’s no reason to worry.

Use household cleaners

Any household cleaner is a good solution to PCB corrosion, but only if it contains no phosphates. Phosphates are effective in preventing corrosion, but are a significant source of pollution in American lakes throughout the United States. However, there are so many phosphate-free cleaners that work just fine. There are also special PCB corrosion cleaners on the market.

Use the brush

A brush can be a super useful tool when you clean a circuit board, as it helps you get between all the tiny components. Choosing a brush with soft bristles is crucial. Size is also important, as you need to be able to achieve all the smallest Spaces.

Most people like to use a toothbrush or paint brush. They’re sturdy and gentle, and most people already own at least one of them.

A non-flaring microfiber cloth is also a good tool to wipe and dry the board immediately after cleaning.

How do you prevent corrosion on the circuit board?

Different metals have different levels of corrosion risk. Although they can all corrode eventually, copper and other base metals corrode much more easily and faster than precious metals and some alloys. The latter is more expensive, so many professionals will stick with the more common metal, so it is necessary to know how to prevent PCB corrosion without damaging its board.

A simple way to prevent corrosion on a circuit board is to place a coating on the exposed copper area. There are many different types of coatings, including epoxy coatings, aerosol spray coatings and flux inhibitors.

You should also try to avoid moisture around the PCB. Try to keep them in an environment that is not affected by humidity. You can solve this problem by using a humidifier in the same room. But knowing how to prevent PCB corrosion is the first step to success.

conclusion

Corrosion on circuit boards naturally occurs at some point in the life of an electronic device. While we don’t necessarily avoid using it entirely, we can take steps to extend the life of electronic devices by preventing corrosion and treating them appropriately. It’s easy to learn how to clean a corroded circuit board, but it’s essential.