Precaution 1. Do not use halogenated cleaning solvents. If it is necessary to use halogenated solvents, solvent proof capacitors are recommended. Follow specified conditions in the product literature. 2. Do not allow contamination of cleaning solvents. Monitor the conductivity, pH, specific gravity, water content, etc. of the cleaning solvents. 3. After cleaning an assembly board, immediately evaporate the residual solvent by forced hot air at a temperature less than the maximum rated operating temperature of the capacitors.

Explanatory Notes 1. Unless specified in the product literature, do not clean capacitors with the following solvents. These cleaning solvents will damage the capacitors. (1) Halogenated solvents: causes capacitor failures due to corrosion. (2) Alkali system solvents: partially corrodes (dissolves) the aluminum case. (3) Petroleum system solvents: deteriorate the rubber sealing material. (4) Xylene: deteriorates the rubber sealing material. (5) Acetone: removes capacitor markings. Halogenated solvents corrode capacitors according to the following formula: Decomposition of solvent: RX ~ H2O * ROH ~ H~~ X! Where: RX : halogenide X! : halogen ion Corrosion reactions: Al ~ 3X!* AlX3 ~ 3e! AlX3 ~ 3H2O * Al(OH)3 ~ 3H2 ~ 3X! Therefore, in the presence of halogen ions, aluminum is continuously dissolved producing hydrogen gas, increasing the capacitor's leakage current, resulting in venting or an open circuit failure. When a capacitor is installed on the PC board with the spacing of its lead wires forcibly spread or narrowed, cleaning solvents can easily penetrate the capacitor, causing corrosion, venting or an open circuit while in service. Therefore, make sure the hole spacing on the PC board matches the lead spacing of the capacitor or pre-form the lead wires before installation. 2. When contaminated with a substance such as flux, the cleaning solvent will have an increased concentration of radical halogen that may penetrate a capacitor and cause corrosion resulting in failure due to venting or open circuit while in service. Flux concentration in the cleaning solvent should not be more than 2 wt.%. 3. If the residual cleaning solvent is not sufficiently evaporated after cleaning an assembly board, capacitors will be exposed to cleaning residuals for an extended period of time causing corrosion and subsequent venting or open circuit failure while in service.