DISCOVER THE ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY'S PREMIER EVENT

SMTA International will be co-located with The Assembly Show - bringing together one of the largest audiences of engineering and manufacturing professionals to the Midwest.

Aqueous Technologies’ Founder & CEO will be presenting:

Spray Pattern Considerations for Cleaning Densely Populated Assemblies With Low Standoff Components

Abstract :

As electronic assemblies become increasingly miniaturized and densely populated, effectively removing post-reflow residues from under low-standoff components presents a growing challenge. Residual ionic contamination—even in trace amounts—can lead to electrochemical migration, reduced performance, and early field failure, making thorough cleaning more critical than ever.

One of the most influential yet often overlooked factors in cleaning effectiveness is the spray pattern produced by cleaning system nozzles. While coherent (non-diffused) nozzles deliver high-impact streams, much of their fluid rebounds upon impact, limiting their ability to reach and clean tight spaces under components. In contrast, diffused spray nozzles generate smaller fluid particles with lower inertia, resulting in better wetting, reduced bounce, and significantly improved fluid penetration in low-clearance environments.

This presentation explores the physics behind spray behavior, the impact of fluid particle size and surface tension, and how spray nozzle selection influences contamination removal. Special emphasis is placed on how diffused nozzles outperform coherent designs—particularly during the rinse cycle when fluid surface tension is highest. Attendees will gain practical insights into optimizing cleaning system performance and ensuring reliability in today’s complex, fine-pitch circuit assemblies.