Mcgean-rohco, Inc.

Gary W Loar

George S Bokisa

Craig V Bishop

Americus C Vitale

Sidney C Beach

Marlinda J Thomay

A novel, environmentally innocuous, post-etch, pre-soldering cleaner and cleaning process is disclosed for removing contaminants from plated surfaces of printed circuit boards manufactured by the pattern plating method. The post-etch, cleaning process of this invention, for removing contaminants from plated surfaces of an etched printed circuit, comprises treating the plated surfaces with a cleaning solution which comprises an aqueous solution of (i) an imidazole-2-thione compound and (ii) an acid. The imidazole-2-thione compound has the formula: ##STR1## wherein A and B are the same or different --R--Y groups, wherein R is a linear, branched or cyclic alkenyl group containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms and Y is a hydrogen, halogen, cyano, vinyl, phenyl or ether moiety. Of this class of compounds, 1-methyl-3-propylimidazole-2-thione is preferred. The novel aqueous cleaners of this invention are effective replacements for conventional cleaners containing the toxic material thiourea and are superior to cleaners free of thiourea.

Post-etch, printed circuit board cleaning process

This invention relates to a method of controlling orthophosphite ion concentration in a hypophosphite-based electroless metal plating bath, comprising the steps of contacting the plating bath with a yttrium or a lanthanide series metal salt, and removing orthophosphite ions from the bath. The methods of the present invention provide effective means for controlling phosphite ion concentration in electroless metal plating baths and especially electroless nickel plating baths. The methods of the present invention provide means for increasing pH and removing orthophosphite ions from the plating bath.

Method of controlling orthophosphite ion concentration in

A composite particle is provided which comprises a matrix of puffed borax having a porous surface, with the matrix having retained on the porous surface thereof a plurality of individual grains of metal oxide. A method of producing such a composite particle is also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Parma, OH, United States of America

Gary W Loar