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July 2026
Precision Cleaning for Reliable Robotic Electronics
By Elizabeth Norwood, Senior Chemist, MicroCare
gistics and autonomous equip- ment, the reliability requirements placed on their electronic assem- blies are becoming increasingly demanding. Control boards, sen- sor electronics, power manage- ment systems and safety-related circuitry must operate consistent- ly, often in environments where failure is not acceptable. With the worldwide robotics
A
market expected to reach $53.64 billion by the end of 2026, and con- tinued growth anticipated across both industrial and service robot- ics, manufacturers are under in- creasing pressure to ensure long- term electronic reliability in more sophisticated systems. At the center of these sys-
tems are densely populated printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) that process data, con- trol motion, monitor position and support safe operation. As robot- ic electronics become more com-
s robotic systems advance across industrial automa- tion, medical technology, lo-
pact and complex, maintaining assembly cleanliness throughout
processed accurately and contin- uously. Sensors monitor move-
functions are often highly com- plex, incorporating fine-pitch and low-clearance components that increase the importance of con- tamination control during assem- bly. In industrial environments, robotic systems may operate con- tinuously for extended periods with limited downtime. Medical and collaborative robotics appli- cations often place even greater emphasis on consistent electronic performance and safety. During PCBA manufactur-
Robotic systems rely on densely populated PCBAs that must remain clean and free of contamination.
manufacturing has become an important part of achieving long- term reliability.
Contamination Risks Modern robotic systems rely
on large volumes of data being
ment, temperature, pressure, po- sition and environmental condi- tions in real time, while con- trollers and processors coordi- nate mechanical functions with high precision. The PCBAs supporting these
ing, residues can originate from soldering fluxes, process chemi- cals, handling oils, particulates and ionic contamination. While these contaminants may not al- ways be visible, they can still af- fect electrical behavior at a mi- croscopic level. Ionic residues are particu-
larly problematic because they can contribute to electrochemical migration and dendritic growth in the presence of moisture and electrical bias. Organic residues
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