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Isopropyl Alcohol in Aerosol, Liquid Packaging & Presaturated Wipes

Isopropyl alcohol (CAS #67-63-0) is also referred to as IPA, isopropanol, and 2-propanol. It dissolves a wide range of polar and non-polar soils, it is often used to dissolve and remove light oils, fingerprints, cutting fluids, flux residues, carbon deposits, and mold release. It is also readily miscible in water, so can be used as a drying agent as well.

For electronic printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, you will find isopropyl alcohol being used to clean flux residues from recently soldered circuit boards or in PCB repair and rework. IPA is also used to remove solder paste or adhesive from SMT stencils. Maintenance cleaning with isopropyl alcohol is common for removing caked-on and burnt-on flux from SMT reflow ovens, wave soldering fingers, selective soldering nozzles, pallets, and anywhere else flux tends to collect in automated soldering processes.

For more information, check out our Cleaning Electronics with Isopropyl Alcohol.

Techspray offers IPA products that are either 70% pure, blended with 30% deionized (DI) water, or 99.8% pure.

Cleaning Grade Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA)

70% pure isopropyl alcohol

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E-Line IPA

99+% IPA in convenient aerosol package

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Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) Wipes - 70%

Pre-saturated wipes with 70% pure isopropyl alcohol

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Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) Wipes - 99.9%

Pre-saturated alcohol wipes with 99.9% pure isopropyl alcohol

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Technical Grade Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA)

99.9% pure isopropyl alcohol

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FAQ's

Will isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipes remove oleophobic coating?

Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipes can potentially remove or damage oleophobic coatings. Oleophobic coatings are designed to repel oils and other hydrophobic substances, such as fingerprints, from the surface of a device or screen. These coatings are commonly found on smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices.

IPA is a powerful solvent and can break down or dissolve certain materials, including some types of oleophobic coatings. If you use IPA wipes on a device with an oleophobic coating, it may compromise or completely remove the coating, leading to a loss of its fingerprint-repelling properties.

Manufacturers typically advise against using alcohol-based cleaning solutions, including IPA, on devices with oleophobic coatings. Instead, they recommend using a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth slightly dampened with water or a cleaning solution specifically designed for electronics with oleophobic coatings. You should always check the device's user manual or the manufacturer's recommendations for proper cleaning procedures to avoid any potential damage.

Can you use isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipes as screen wipes?

Using isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipes on screens can be risky, and it's generally not recommended for most electronic devices, particularly those with sensitive displays, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and LCD/LED screens. The alcohol content in isopropyl alcohol wipes can potentially damage the protective coatings and the screen itself, leading to discoloration, streaks, or other issues.

What is the difference between degreaser and sanitizer?

A degreaser is intended to clean a surface, so remove contamination. A degreaser is designed specifically to remove oils, greases, and lubricants. Sanitizers are intended to kill various pathogenic agents, like bacteria and viruses. There are materials that can do both, like 70% isopropyl alcohol (per CDC guidelines for hard surface disinfecting), but don’t assume all degreasers will kill pathogens.