Is it possible to clean ICs with Pure Alcohol ?

[aarg]

I thought ethyl and methyl had a different carbon chain. Methyl = CH4O and ethyl = C2H6O.

[russellz]

grin.

As an addendum , industrial meths is an excellent solvent imo.

It does not have the residue associated with the over the counter.

Unfortunately eu taxation of alcohol encourages adulteration by criminal gangs and poisoning is too common.

This makes industrial meths extremely difficult to get.

Here, in France, you can buy "Alcool à brûler" in any supermarket.  It consists of 90 to 95% ethanol with 5 to 10% methanol.  Both are highly volatile and leave no residue making it very good for cleaning.

Russell.

[Boardburner2]

equivalent here is rubbing alcohol.
Composition is different though its pretty good but im sure that there is something else in it , it feels slightly oily after evaporation

The french type cannot be imported to the uk without a licence, i tried once.

[Paul__B]

Composition is different though its pretty good but im sure that there is something else in it , it feels slightly oily after evaporation

That would be because it has oil in it!

And often, perfume as well.

Hint:  Notice the name: "Rubbing Alcohol."

[Boardburner2]

i am cleaning dust

and about the compositions it says : Aqua and Alcohol

Aqua i think is water according to cosmetic companies.

Alcohol type should be specified.

Over here rubbing alcohol uses isopropyl alcohol at 40 % as a denaturant.

Its not very nice for dust ime it evaporates slowly and sludges the dust making it difficult to vacuum.

Cleaning dust off psu's especially hv ones can be very annoying.

Not allowed to use compressed air as it blows it all over the place  just a hoover.

industrial meths (brushed with adequate ventilation) used to be my preferred solution.

Cant have water in it.

Someone suggested colemans fluid but iv never been sure about that to try it.

edit
to be clear i was using pure isopropyl not rubbing alcohol.

[Paul__B]

Aqua i think is water according to cosmetic companies.

Actually, it is according to the classical Romans of antiquity who developed the language: Latin.  Traditionally used in the Medical Profession and pharmaceutical products.

Over here rubbing alcohol uses isopropyl alcohol at 40 % as a denaturant.
Its not very nice for dust ime it evaporates slowly and sludges the dust making it difficult to vacuum.

If IPA is the "denaturant", what is the rest?  Ethanol I suppose, as it is the cheapest to actually make.

"Rubbing alcohol" sludges the dust because as noted above, it contains oil.

[Boardburner2]

Actually, it is according to the classical Romans of antiquity who developed the language: Latin.  Traditionally used in the Medical Profession and pharmaceutical products.
If IPA is the "denaturant", what is the rest?  Ethanol I suppose, as it is the cheapest to actually make.

"Rubbing alcohol" sludges the dust because as noted above, it contains oil.

Yes ethanol and isopropyl.

Oil, yes i edited the post while you were posting , i was meaning pure isopropyl not rubbing.

Manufacturer says alcohol can be used without specifying type.

In the good old days we had arklone available.

[CrossRoads]

Anhydrous alcohol works well, 99.9%. Dries quick thru evaporation as there is next to nothing in it. Use ventilation if cleaning a lot of cards.
http://www.mgchemicals.com/products/cleaners/electronic-cleaners/isopropyl-alcohol-824/

[DrAzzy]

I've never seen "rubbing alcohol" that had crap in it, it always evaporated clean for me. At least in the states, rubbing alcohol is 70% or 91% (the stood you want) isopropyl alcohol. It does not contain a denaturant, as isopropyl alcohol is not drinkable (it's only mildly toxic though).

That's what I use for cleaning off flux, as well as many other cleaning operations

[firashelou]

Here, in France, you can buy "Alcool à brûler" in any supermarket.  It consists of 90 to 95% ethanol with 5 to 10% methanol.  Both are highly volatile and leave no residue making it very good for cleaning.

Russell.

exactly mine is volatile that's why i had courage to use it ! you can put alcohol all over yourself and after a bit of time nothing is left

[firashelou]

Aqua i think is water according to cosmetic companies.

Alcohol type should be specified.

Over here rubbing alcohol uses isopropyl alcohol at 40 % as a denaturant.

Its not very nice for dust ime it evaporates slowly and sludges the dust making it difficult to vacuum.

Cleaning dust off psu's especially hv ones can be very annoying.

Not allowed to use compressed air as it blows it all over the place  just a hoover.

industrial meths (brushed with adequate ventilation) used to be my preferred solution.

Cant have water in it.

Someone suggested colemans fluid but iv never been sure about that to try it.

edit
to be clear i was using pure isopropyl not rubbing alcohol.

aqua is latin yes and it means water for sure, it is used in italian and spanish but different letters, in spanish acqua and in italian agua

well i tried to clean the ICs as i said before and everything works fine, the composition doesn't tell which alcohol they are using but it says the percentage is 95% that's all on the bottle

[firashelou]

Anhydrous alcohol works well, 99.9%. Dries quick thru evaporation as there is next to nothing in it. Use ventilation if cleaning a lot of cards.
http://www.mgchemicals.com/products/cleaners/electronic-cleaners/isopropyl-alcohol-824/

the one i use cleans 99.9% too and dries very quickly so i guess according to this info my ICs are safe ?

[jboyton]

Is there really an advantage in using 99.9% isopropanol vs. the 91% solution that is readily available? A 91% v/v solution is the azeotrope. A nearly pure solution would be somewhat more volatile but temperature and air flow are probably a lot more important than that slight difference. I wonder how much moisture the anhydrous stuff absorbs before it evaporates?

Anhydrous isopropanol costs $10 for a 500ml bottle at digikey, not including shipping. The other day I walked down to the local drug store and bought a 480ml bottle of 91% isopropanol/water for under $3.

Or does it make a noticeable difference?

[CrossRoads]

I find the "dryer" alcohol cuts thru the flux from rosin core solder quite well. Lesses %s need multiple passes to clean.
My local electronics supplier has it in gallon bottles. I picked one up at some point, we put a few  ounces at a time in a small pump jar (not sure what the actual name is, same square bottle with spring top, push down a couple times and top fills with some alcohol for the cleaning brush - same thing our shop at work uses for cleaning up reworked boards).
http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Menda/35309/?qs=%2fha2pyFadugResYH%252b75ZqvYV6knOqbetNdKoUVscgdY%3d
which my supplier also had, along with a hog hair bursh
http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/MG-Chemicals/857/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMvJqaFk9BIiv6jhjM0Pk6JzPq2RhIeIS6c%3d
This one works well as the bristles are longer and the pins of shields can go thru the bristles.
Hopefully the forum/IE11 won't stick extra http stuff at the front of the links ...

[CrossRoads]

Good stuff! Use in a ventilated area.

ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL: ELECTRONICS CLEANER 824-LIQUID

Page 10 of 14 Date of Creation: 01 Aug 2013 / Ver. 2.01

Skin corrosion/irritation	Causes mild skin irritation based on Draize tests on rabbits. Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause dermatitis
Serious eye damage/irritation	Causes moderate to severe eye irritation based on Draize tests on rabbits
Sensitization (allergic reactions)	No evidence of sensitization
Carcinogenicity (risk of cancer)	Not classified or listed as a carcinogen by IARC, ACGIH, CA Prop 65, or NTP
Mutagenicity (risk of heritable genetic effects)	No data available
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STOT-single exposure	Propan-2-ol can affect the central nervous system by inhalation causing drowsiness or dizziness.
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Aspiration hazard	Not classified as aspiration hazards.