-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueBox Build
One trend is to add box build and final assembly to your product offering. In this issue, we explore the opportunities and risks of adding system assembly to your service portfolio.
IPC APEX EXPO 2024 Pre-show
This month’s issue devotes its pages to a comprehensive preview of the IPC APEX EXPO 2024 event. Whether your role is technical or business, if you're new-to-the-industry or seasoned veteran, you'll find value throughout this program.
Boost Your Sales
Every part of your business can be evaluated as a process, including your sales funnel. Optimizing your selling process requires a coordinated effort between marketing and sales. In this issue, industry experts in marketing and sales offer their best advice on how to boost your sales efforts.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
Rehm's Effective Residue Management System Increases Availability and Extends Maintenance Cycles
February 6, 2017 | Rehm Thermal SystemsEstimated reading time: 4 minutes
As with many thermal processes, soldering fumes, aerosols and solid particles (residues) that must be removed from the process cycle are also produced when soldering electronic assemblies. Rehm Thermal Systems has established effective residue management for reflow convection soldering with the VisionXP+. The continuous development in cooperation with customers as well as the experience gained with more than 1,000 installed systems proves that, by means of thermal pyrolysis, the process gas is reliably cleaned and the time spent on maintenance is reduced.
VisionXP+ systems in the production hall
Without an effective residue deposition system, the concentration of the volatile organic compounds in the process gas atmosphere would steadily increase, which would entail a great potential for contamination as well as intensive maintenance and repair expenses. For many years now, Rehm Thermal Systems has been equipped with two proven residue management systems: pyrolysis in the pre-heating zone, and cold condensation and filtration in the cooling section. This means that all aggregate states of the residues – gaseous, liquid, crystalline and particulate – are removed from the process gas in an effective and energy-saving way.
Schematic representation of the VisionXP+ with pyrolysis in the infeed area
"Our pyrolysis technology not only scores through its excellent cleaning performance. The heat energy generated for the cracking is subsequently fed back to the process circuit, so this solution is not only clean, but also efficient and sustainable. In addition, with an annual granulate change the pyrolysis is almost maintenance-free, which significantly reduces the downtime in production – an enormously important aspect for every electronics manufacturer," says Dr. Hans Bell, Head of Development and Technology at Rehm.
Is the chemistry right?
As early as 2003, Rehm, in cooperation with the renowned research institute ILK Dresden, started the initial investigations into the chemical composition of the soldering fumes and their efficient deposition. The results of this work show that the soldering fumes consist of a large number of chemical compounds that are not only composed of the substances of the electronic assemblies but are also formed by chemical reactions during soldering. The operating temperatures, residence times and granule types of the pyrolysis which were subsequently researched led to the realisation that the maximum temperature was particularly responsible for effective deposition of the residues. This operating temperature can also be reduced through the use of catalysts, such as specified granules. However, an excellent matching of the catalyst material to the soldering composition that is to be deposited is necessary for this purpose. Even small amounts of interfering elements, such as unknown components of the solder fume through a different type of conductor plate, can seriously interfere with the catalytic process. Based on the results of the chemical soldering fume composition, which varies greatly depending on the type of solder paste, component and conductor plate, not the catalytic process but rather the thermal pyrolysis with semi-active granules was further developed as a robust and reliable deposition process.
Diehl Controls is using the Rehm pyrolysis technology successfully. "Experience shows that the expenses for cleaning and maintenance were significantly reduced due to the much lower level of contamination. The pyrolysis no longer produces liquid residue, and the residuals accumulate in the granules and can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. Thanks to effective residue management, the environmental impact is significantly lower, since the pollutants are bound and are not released into the discharged air," explains Herbert Ehinger, Production Manager at Diehl Controls in Wangen in the Allgäu region of Germany.
Pyrolysis and cold condensation – the perfect combination
With VisionXS and VisionXP+, the residue management functions by means of a combination of pyrolysis in the inlet and peak area as well as the cold condensation in the cooling section. In the case of pyrolysis, long-chain molecular compounds in the soldering fumes are broken (cracked) into short-chain molecules by means of thermal fission through heating (450 – 900 °C). After cracking, they are small enough to be deposited in the granules and removed from the process.
The principle of cold condensation has also proven itself in the reflow soldering technology for process gas purification. It is used in all systems of the VisionX series – in addition to pyrolysis technology, such as in the case of the VisionXP+, or the complete residue management of the VisionXC. This deposition principle is particularly energy-neutral in the area of the cooling path. The process gas is passed through a two- or three-stage cooler filter system so that the residues can condense at the cooler and particles and droplets settle in the filter. The purified gas is then fed back into the process.
This effective residue management system with two operating mechanisms cleans the process gas safely and reliably. This yields the best quality soldering results, minimum downtime and a long lifespan for the Rehm systems.
About Rehm Thermal System
As a specialist in the field of thermal system solutions for the electronics and photovoltaics industries, Rehm is a technology and innovation leader in the modern and economical production of electronic modules. As a globally operating manufacturer of reflow soldering systems with convection, condensation or vacuum, drying and coating systems, functional test systems, equipment for the metallization of solar cells as well as numerous customer-specific special systems, we are represented in all relevant growth markets and, as a partner with more than 25 years of industry experience, we implement innovative manufacturing solutions that set standards.
Suggested Items
AIM to Highlight NC259FPA Ultrafine No Clean Solder Paste at SMTA Wisconsin Expo & Tech Forum
04/18/2024 | AIMAIM Solder, a leading global manufacturer of solder assembly materials for the electronics industry, is pleased to announce its participation in the upcoming SMTA Wisconsin Expo & Tech Forum taking place on May 7 at the Four Points by Sheraton | Milwaukee Airport, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Hentec/RPS Publishes an Essential Guide to Selective Soldering Processing Tech Paper
04/17/2024 | Hentec Industries/RPS AutomationHentec Industries/RPS Automation, a leading manufacturer of selective soldering, lead tinning and solderability test equipment, announces that it has published a technical paper describing the critical process parameters that need to be optimized to ensure optimal results and guarantee the utmost in end-product quality.
Empowering Electronics Assembly: Introducing ALPHA Innolot MXE Alloy
04/16/2024 | MacDermid Alpha Electronics SolutionsIn the rapidly evolving electronics industry, where innovation drives progress, MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions is committed to setting a new standard. Today, we are pleased to introduce ALPHA Innolot MXE, a revolutionary alloy meticulously engineered to address the critical needs of enhanced reliability and performance in modern electronic assemblies.
New Book on Low-temperature Soldering Now Available
04/17/2024 | I-Connect007I-Connect007 is pleased to announce that The Printed Circuit Assembler’s Guide to… Low-temperature Soldering, Vol. 2, by subject matter experts at MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, is now available for download.
Inkjet Solder Mask ‘Has Arrived’
04/10/2024 | Pete Starkey, I-Connect007I was delighted to be invited to attend an interactive webinar entitled “Solder Mask Coating Made Easy with Additive Manufacturing,” hosted by SUSS MicroTec Netherlands in Eindhoven. The webinar was introduced and moderated by André Bodegom, managing director at Adeon Technologies, and the speakers were Mariana Van Dam, senior product manager PCB imaging solutions at AGFA in Belgium; Ashley Steers, sales manager at Electra Polymers in the UK; and Dr. Luca Gautero, product manager at SUSS MicroTec Netherlands.