Cleaning compatibility belongs to a component and a defined process. A statement that an aluminum capacitor is washable should not be expanded into permission for any solvent, wash duration or drying route. Record the actual series and the full exposure before qualifying the assembly.
Identify the component construction
Use the manufacturer’s complete part designation and current application instructions. Distinguish radial, surface-mount and other constructions rather than relying on a shared capacitance value. Include sleeve and marking requirements where they matter to inspection or traceability.
Nichicon’s application guidance treats cleaning-agent selection, drying and subsequent coating as related considerations. Its examples are bounded by their stated conditions; the production team should confirm the current instructions for the particular capacitor and chemistry combination.
Write the actual exposure sequence
List wash, rinse, transfer, drying and storage before any coating or encapsulation. Identify the chemistry formulation and its controlled concentration, along with the equipment method. Keep repeated washes in the history rather than treating each pass as a fresh unaffected sample.
For example, a board that is cleaned once after soldering and again after rework has experienced a different sequence from the original one-pass qualification. Review the accumulated exposure instead of checking only the latest wash record.
Choose relevant inspection points
| Stage | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Before wash | Original body, sleeve and marking condition |
| After wash and drying | Appearance and required electrical properties |
| Before coating | Completion of the approved drying and handling route |
| After later processing | Condition under the final assembly sequence |
Use representative placement geometry and neighboring parts. A loose component dipped in a beaker does not reproduce every exposure or drying condition on a populated PCB.
Use the production chemistry control record when selecting trial samples. A fresh laboratory solution does not represent every permitted condition of a working bath. Identify the qualified range and retain the relevant rinse and drying records with the capacitor results.
Resolve differences before release
- Compare the trial with supplier guidance.
- Investigate new sleeve, seal or marking changes.
- Review electrical results using the defined measurement conditions.
- Obtain disposition for any unrepresented exposure.
- Document the accepted process boundary.
Do not assume that an unchanged capacitance reading establishes every aspect of compatibility. Appearance, insulation-related requirements and later service behavior may need different evidence under the product qualification plan.
Keep chemistry substitutions visible even when the cleaning machine and program name remain unchanged. A revised concentrate or additive can change what reaches the capacitor.
The cleaning-access guide covers residue removal beneath components, while lead-forming review separates mechanical handling from the cleaning sequence.
Move from reading to a build-ready project
Use the fabrication and assembly checklists to prepare drawings, production files and test requirements.
Open the DFM checklist