Printed circuit board manufacturing is a complex industry requiring numerous processing steps to produce single or multi-layer printed circuit boards.

The unique abrasive/polishing characteristics of Navajo Brand® pumice can be used during printed circuit board manufacturing.

Brush scrubbing with pumice has been the industry standard for many years. The use of nylon brushes with a suspension of pumice in water results in excellent surface topography. Navajo Brand® pumice, with its narrow particle size and Mohs hardness of 5.5 to 6.0, provides uniform abrasion/polishing.

During the panel preparation step, the panels are subjected to anti-oxidant baths, cleaners, and pumice scrubs similar to the core preparation.

Mechanical scrubbing methods include abrasive brush scrubbing and pumice scrubbing. Brush scrubbing removes a thin layer of surface copper, thus ensuring a clean surface, but tends to impart stress to a thin core material by deforming it during the scrub. Brush scrubbing can also produce a surface not compatible with fine-line circuit designs.

Scrubbing with Navajo Brand® pumice imparts less or no stress to the material and produces a favorable surface.