Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the dry fluxing of at least one component and/or solder surface via electron attachment. In one embodiment, there is provided a method for removing oxides from the surface of a component comprising: providing a component on a substrate wherein the substrate is grounded or has a positive electrical potential to form a target assembly; passing a gas mixture comprising a reducing gas through an ion generator comprising a first and a second electrode; supplying an amount of voltage to at least one of the first and second electrodes sufficient to generate electrons wherein the electrons attach to at least a portion of the reducing gas and form a negatively charged reducing gas; and contacting the target assembly with the negatively charged reducing gas to reduce the oxides on the component.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method comprising same for removing metal oxides from a substrate surface are disclosed herein. In one particular embodiment, the apparatus comprises an electrode assembly that has a housing that is at least partially comprised of an insulating material and having an internal volume and at least one fluid inlet that is in fluid communication with the internal volume; a conductive base connected to the housing comprising a plurality of conductive tips that extend therefrom into a target area and a plurality of perforations that extend therethrough and are in fluid communication with the internal volume to allow for a passage of a gas mixture comprising a reducing gas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the dry fluxing of at least one component and/or solder surface via electron attachment. In one embodiment, there is provided a method for removing oxides from the surface of a component comprising: providing a component on a substrate wherein the substrate is grounded or has a positive electrical potential to form a target assembly; passing a gas mixture comprising a reducing gas through an ion generator comprising a first and a second electrode; supplying an amount of voltage to at least one of the first and second electrodes sufficient to generate electrons wherein the electrons attach to at least a portion of the reducing gas and form a negatively charged reducing gas; and contacting the target assembly with the negatively charged reducing gas to reduce the oxides on the component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for removing metal oxides from a substrate surface. In one particular embodiment, the method comprises: providing a substrate, a first, and a second electrode that reside within a target area; passing a gas mixture comprising a reducing gas through the target area; supplying an amount of energy to the first and/or the second electrode to generate electrons within the target area wherein at least a portion of the electrons attach to a portion of the reducing gas and form a negatively charged reducing gas; and contacting the substrate with the negatively charged reducing gas to reduce the metal oxides on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of dry fluxing metal surfaces of one or more components to be soldered, comprising the steps of: a) providing one or more components to be soldered which are connected to a first electrode as a target assembly; b) providing a second electrode adjacent the target assembly; c) providing a gas mixture comprising a reducing gas between the first and second electrodes; d) providing a direct current (DC) voltage to the first and second electrodes and donating electrons to the reducing gas to form negatively charged ionic reducing gas; e) contacting the target assembly with the negatively charged ionic reducing gas and reducing oxides on the target assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of dry fluxing metal surfaces of one or more components to be soldered, comprising the steps of: a) providing one or more components to be soldered which are connected to a first electrode as a target assembly; b) providing a second electrode adjacent the target assembly; c) providing a gas mixture comprising a reducing gas between the first and second electrodes; d) providing a direct current (DC) voltage to the first and second electrodes and donating electrons to the reducing gas to form negatively charged ionic reducing gas; e) contacting the target assembly with the negatively charged ionic reducing gas and reducing oxides on the target assembly.