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Air Quality Monitoring for Flux in PCB Assembly

Dan Lewis

Hi All,

I have an interesting situation of which I have not come across before. We have multiple solder operation based areas within a clean room with what is 'believed to be' adequate LEV. Though often there is a flux-like smell coming from a reflow oven in an area not too far away from where operators sit.

I have equipment to measure the flow and static pressure of the extraction/ventilation system though I'm ideally looking for an air quality monitor that will be able to ensure compliance with COSHH regulations where I believe the [workplace exposure] limit of rosin-based solder flux fumes is set at 0.05mg/m³ (8hr TWA long term limit). I can find monitors which will read volatile organic compounds but when looking for something specific I can only find papers and documentation on the dangers and effects of flux inhalation.

I'm hoping that someone would be able to assist or point me in the right direction of someone who supplies specific equipment. I have contacted multiple measurement tool distributors who have been unable to help. I want to make sure that the areas are safe for operators in this heat whilst we also look at improving comfort by removing/filtering airborne particles causing the smell.

Many Thanks

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    As a bit of a side-track , ion beam spectroscopy is not expensive because it is hard, but because the market is very small and very military, and secure manufacture and calibration facilities are expensive.

    There have been a few almost DIY efforts that show that the technique is more or less within the reach of the well equipped private workshop, like this example from  the University of Basel. Although a few kV are needed to bias the drift tube, the current is negligible and the voltages more or less constant. Only the gate voltage needs pulsing, to less than 100V p-p and the response signatures are current pulses hundreds of microseconds wide after a mass and charge dependent drift time of perhaps 5-10 msec over  a few inches.


    Mike

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  • 0

    As a bit of a side-track , ion beam spectroscopy is not expensive because it is hard, but because the market is very small and very military, and secure manufacture and calibration facilities are expensive.

    There have been a few almost DIY efforts that show that the technique is more or less within the reach of the well equipped private workshop, like this example from  the University of Basel. Although a few kV are needed to bias the drift tube, the current is negligible and the voltages more or less constant. Only the gate voltage needs pulsing, to less than 100V p-p and the response signatures are current pulses hundreds of microseconds wide after a mass and charge dependent drift time of perhaps 5-10 msec over  a few inches.


    Mike

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