Page 17 - CIJ April 2025- Digital Edition
P. 17

COVER STORY




                   The Indian government’s focus   Cleaning Methods                  medium, effectively removing
                  on semiconductor production                                        contaminants from complex or
                  highlights the need for meticulous   Adopted                       small components. This method
                  cleanliness in the manufacturing   To maintain high-quality        is ideal for hard-to-reach areas
                  process. The fabrication of     standards and ensure the reliability   and offers thorough cleaning
                  semiconductors requires highly   of electronic products, various   without the need for harsh
                  controlled environments, as     cleaning techniques are employed.   chemicals.
                  even the smallest particle of   These methods are designed
                  contamination can result in     to address the diverse types of   Industrial Cleaning
                  catastrophic failure. Cleanrooms   contamination present during   Solution Providers
                  and state-of-the-art cleaning   production:
                  processes will be integral to   1.  Manual Cleaning: This         As the complexity of electronics
                  attracting foreign investment and   involves the use of alcohol   manufacturing increases, the
                  advancing domestic capabilities in   swabs, wiping, or compressed   need for specialised cleaning
                  this vital industry.                                            solutions becomes even more
                                                     air to clean smaller components   critical. Industrial cleaning
                  Contaminants                       or assemblies. While effective   service providers offer not only
                                                     for minor cleaning, it is labour-
                  in Electronics                     intensive and best suited for   the necessary equipment but also
                                                                                  the expertise to select the most
                  Manufacturing                      smaller-scale operations.    effective cleaning method. These
                   Electronics manufacturing is   2.  Aqueous Cleaning: This      providers offer a range of advanced
                  highly susceptible to contaminants,   technique uses water-based   technologies, from ultrasonic
                                                     solutions, often combined
                  which can significantly impact     with detergents, to remove   and plasma cleaning to custom-
                  product quality. The main          flux residues and particulate   designed systems, all of which
                  contaminants include:              matter. Aqueous cleaning is   ensure that components meet the
                                                                                  highest cleanliness standards.
                  •  Dust and Particles: These       commonly used in industries
                     particles can be introduced by   where chemical residue must be   Service providers help businesses
                     machinery, human handling, or   minimised.                   stay competitive by offering
                     external environmental factors.                              efficient cleaning solutions that
                     Even small amounts can cause   3.  Semi-Aqueous Cleaning:    meet global standards. By tailoring
                     short circuits or poor electrical   Combining solvents and water,   cleaning processes to the specific
                     connections.                    this method is particularly   needs of each product or production
                                                     effective for stubborn residues
                  •  Flux Residue: Solder flux       like flux. It removes oils and   stage, these companies ensure that
                                                                                  manufacturers can consistently
                     residues can remain on          greases while being gentle   deliver high-quality, reliable
                     components after assembly,      enough for sensitive electronic   electronic devices.
                     leading to electrical failure if   parts.
                     not properly cleaned.        4.  Dry Cleaning: Dry cleaning    As India’s electronics sector
                  •  Ionic Contamination: Leftover   methods, such as CO₂ snow    continues to evolve, the importance
                                                                                  of maintaining clean manufacturing
                     ionic particles from cleaning   cleaning, are used for delicate   environments cannot be overstated.
                     agents or solder flux can cause   parts. This non-contact method   Meeting cleanliness standards
                     corrosion, affecting device     involves solid CO₂ particles to   will not only help ensure product
                     longevity and performance.      remove contaminants without   quality but also enable India to
                  •  Fibres and Oils: Often          leaving moisture behind.     position itself as a global leader in
                     introduced during assembly or   5.  Plasma Cleaning: Plasma   semiconductor manufacturing and
                     packaging, these contaminants   cleaning utilises ionised gases to   high-tech production.
                     can interfere with the electrical   remove organic contamination
                                                                                    The adoption of advanced
                     functioning of the device.      from surfaces. This technique is   cleaning technologies, such as
                  •  Chemical Residues: Various      widely used in the electronics   plasma and ultrasonic systems, is
                     cleaning solvents or adhesives,   industry, especially for parts   essential to the success of electronics
                     if not adequately removed, can   that require cleaning prior to   manufacturing. Cleanliness is no
                     damage sensitive components.    coating or bonding.          longer just a regulatory requirement
                   Each of these contaminants poses   6.  Ultrasonic Cleaning: High-  — it is a fundamental aspect
                  a unique challenge to electronics   frequency sound waves are   of product reliability, customer
                  manufacturers, making effective    employed in ultrasonic cleaning   satisfaction, and competitiveness in
                  cleaning processes critical.       systems to agitate a liquid   the global marketplace.
                                                                                                            17
                                                           www.cleanindiajournal.com•Clean India Journal•APRIL 2025
   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22