What can a conformal coating cleaning process remove?

A DCT process can be developed for acrylic, polyurethane, silicone, synthetic-rubber, and other documented coating types. The result depends on the exact coating formulation, cure state, layer thickness, substrate, geometry, and materials that must remain unaffected.

• PCBAs: complete or selective coating removal for repair, analysis, or recoating.
• Coating frames and pallets: removal of accumulated coating so tooling can return to production.
• Coating-machine parts: removal of compatible coating residues from removable production parts.

The coating name alone is not enough to set a production process. DCT recommends testing the real coated part before defining the cleaning fluid, technology, temperature, time, rinsing, and drying stages.

Which cleaning fluid and technology fit each coating type?

The table is a starting point for sample testing, not a universal compatibility guarantee.

Explore the verified DCT categories for Decotron® water-based cleaning agents, Proton® solvent-based cleaning agents, and InJet® spray-in-air cleaning systems.

How DCT defines a repeatable coating-removal process

1. Identify the application. Record the exact coating, cure conditions, layer age and thickness, part type, substrate, and required cleaning level.
2. Test the real sample. Compare suitable fluids and cleaning technologies on representative parts.
3. Check material compatibility. Inspect components, labels, inks, adhesives, seals, plastics, metals, and surface finishes.
4. Set the full cycle. Define cleaning, draining, rinsing, and drying parameters for the selected machine and fluid.
5. Confirm the result. Agree on the inspection method and acceptance criteria before production implementation.

Why must material compatibility be tested?

A fluid that removes a coating can also affect another material on the same assembly. DCT tests have identified case-specific effects on labels, printed markings, connector parts, rubber seals, adhesives, plastics, paint, RFID components, and other sensitive materials.

For this reason, no cleaning fluid should be selected only by the broad coating family. The test must use the actual assembly or a representative material set and must include the planned exposure, temperature, rinsing, and drying conditions.

One supplier for the machine, fluid, and cleaning process

DCT takes 100% responsibility for the cleaning process when the customer uses both the DCT cleaning machine and the DCT cleaning fluid within the validated process conditions.

DCT has more than 25 years of market experience and supports customers worldwide through a local distributor network.

Selecting the Right Chemistry by Polymer Type

Selecting the precise cleaning agent based on the polymer type is the single most important factor for successful coating removal:

• For Acrylics and Polyurethanes: Utilize Decotron EFD1. This revolutionary water-based, pH-neutral fluid safely strips acrylics and urethanes from both PCBAs and coating frames. It is fully optimized for automated high-pressure spray and air-bubbling systems, eliminating severe flammability hazards.
• For Silicones: Choose Proton 707. Specifically engineered for silicone conformal coatings with a surface energy below 24 mN/m, this alcohol-based solvent acts like molecular scissors to actively cleave Si-O bonds, dissolving the silicone matrix quickly and effectively without causing galvanic corrosion.
• For Resistant Polyurethanes & Heavy Maintenance: Select Proton 537. Optimized for heavy tooling and coating frames, it offers the highest efficiency in breaking down baked-on resins and tough polyurethanes.

Recommended Hardware Systems for Coating Removal

The chemical properties of our fluids reach peak efficiency when paired with optimal mechanical agitation:

• Air-Bubbling Technology: For highly complex geometries or extremely thick layers on coating frames, air-bubbling technology is highly effective. It fully submerges the frame, allowing the chemistry to penetrate deep into crevices without line-of-sight shadowing.
• InJet 888 CRD: The ultimate heavy-duty system utilizing advanced Spray-in-Air technology. It is capable of processing high volumes of heavily built-up coating frames and pallets, drastically reducing your Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) associated with manual scraping.

Discover more about our Spray-in-Air technology and available batch cleaners in the InJet Cleaning Systems section.

Frequently asked questions about conformal coating removal

Can one cleaning fluid remove every conformal coating?

No. Acrylic, polyurethane, silicone, synthetic-rubber, and mixed formulations respond differently. Even coatings in the same family can require different fluids or process settings.

Can DCT remove coating from both PCBAs and coating frames?

Yes, DCT has documented tests for PCBAs, coating frames, pallets, and coating-machine parts. The cleaning target and acceptable material changes must be defined separately for each part.

Does a successful coating-removal test guarantee component compatibility?

No. Coating removal and material compatibility are separate acceptance criteria. Both must be checked on representative parts.

Which cleaning technology is used?

DCT tests spray-in-air, ultrasonic, air-bubbling, immersion, or a combination of methods according to the coating, geometry, substrate, required capacity, and compatibility limits.

Is rinsing required after coating removal?

The rinse depends on the selected cleaning fluid and the part. DCT defines the cleaning, rinsing, and drying sequence together during process validation.

What information should I send for an initial evaluation?

Provide the coating trade name and technical documentation, cure conditions, photographs, part materials, dimensions, contamination age and thickness, expected throughput, and the required cleanliness or rework result.

Start with your real coating and part

Send DCT a representative sample and the available process information. The team will evaluate the coating-removal route and identify which further compatibility and process tests are needed.

Request a conformal coating cleaning evaluation