FILTRATION OF FLUX CONTAMINANTS

摘要

A two-stage filtration system is coupled with an oven, such as a solder reflow oven, to remove a vapor stream from the oven and to remove organic compounds that have volatilized from a solder flux and other contaminants from the vapor stream. The filtration system includes a first stage for trapping larger particles and a second stage including a packed bed of wettable media, such as steel balls, for trapping smaller particles and serving as a nucleation site for condensed organic compounds. The first stage can be a centrifugal self-cleaning element in the form of a mesh strainer coupled with a rotary motor for spinning the mesh strainer.