How to Perform PCB Surface Cleaning and the ROSE Test?

What is the ROSE Test (Resistivity of Solvent Extract)?

PCB Surface Cleaning and ROSE Testing: How Are Ion Residue and Pure Water Analyses Performed?

Today, the production of electronic circuit boards necessitates precise cleaning processes and the use of high-purity water. Just as advanced production technologies have evolved, the analysis and validation steps of these processes have become an indispensable part of quality assurance. In particular, PCB (Printed Circuit Board) cleaning effectiveness, monitoring of chemical residues, and tracking of pure water parameters are priorities for many industries.

What is the ROSE Test (Resistivity of Solvent Extract)?

IPC-TM-650 2.3.25.1 The ROSE test, conducted in accordance with the IPC-TM-650 2.3.25.1 standard, is a fast and practical method used to analyze ionic contaminants remaining on the surface of printed circuit boards. Essentially, the method involves extracting the PCB in a specific solution and determining the ionic cleanliness level equivalent to NaCl (µg/cm²) by measuring the solution’s conductivity.

Why Is It Important?

Verification of post-production cleaning quality
Prevention of residue-related failures
Compliance with customer acceptance criteria

Residue Analysis by Ion Chromatography

Based on the IPC-TM-650 2.3.28 standard, this method enables the quantitative determination of residues on the PCB surface in terms of anions, cations, and weak organic acids. Unlike the ROSE test, it provides detailed information on the type of ions.

Detectable Ions:

Anions: Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻, PO₄³⁻
Cations: Na⁺, K⁺, NH₄⁺, Ca²⁺
Organic acids: Acetate, Formate, Malate

💧 Monitoring of Pure Water Quality

Pure water is one of the most commonly used raw materials in electronic, medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic manufacturing. Therefore, the chemical and microbiological purity levels must be meticulously monitored at every stage of production.

Key Parameters and Methods:

Parameter Method

Conductivity ISO 7888, ASTM D1125, SM 2510 B

TDS SM 2540 C, Calculation from EC (approximate)

pH ISO 10523, ASTM D1293, SM 4500-H⁺ B

Microbiology ISO 6222, ISO 9308-1, SM 9215 B (if required)

Regulatory Compliance and Reporting of Analyses

Nanolab reports on these analyses in full compliance with both TÜBİTAK-funded projects and ISO 17025 accreditation requirements. We provide our customers with the following, tailored to the requested analyses:

Method references,
Sample preparation protocols,
NaCl equivalent calculations,
Ion reports based on ppm.

Why NANOLAB?

Reliable results with our TÜRKAK-accredited infrastructure
Full compliance with international standards such as IPC, ISO, ASTM, and EPA
Advanced IC, ICP, and FTIR infrastructure for high-purity chemical analyses
R&D-supported analysis, validation, and consulting services

The right analysis partner for companies seeking to optimize PCB cleaning, maintain control over production processes, and document pure water quality: NANOLAB.

For more information, contact us.

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