When selecting a flux to solder wires and electronic components, are you confused? Depending on the electronic component chosen and the need after soldering for cleaning, we can guide you with expert advice. The correct flux is critical in preventing residue or rust, and the type will vary based on part cleanliness, and the dosage is specific to the flux type, which will range from tubes to canisters.
In BGA soldering, flux keeps oxides down as well, but acts as a “magnet” for surrounding molten solder to go the place where you actually want it to go, creating a nice, clean connection with minimal “waste.” While flux is essential to the soldering process, many consumers may not be aware of it. Soldering is the method of joining different components, like wires or components on a circuit board, to make mechanical, electrical and thermal connections. Flux is all about preventing oxidization of the workpiece in the case of prolonged exposure to air affecting a desired connection.
Solder paste, a viscous substance composed of minute solder particles held together by flux, is used in the surface mounting process of SMT technology, which solders SMD electronic components onto PCBs. The solder paste's properties can be adjusted by modifying the paste's composition, or adding other metals to meet the requirements of each application. Solder pastes with various viscosities may be manufactured by altering the particle size, shape, metal coat, and flux type.
The flux serves two main roles, the first of which is preventing oxidization of metallic surfaces during the soldering process, and the second is to act as a sort of “magnet” to the molten solder, enabling it to properly coalesce with the part being soldered, ensuring a clean, efficient connection. However, flux is a critical component in soldering and many consumers are completely oblivious to its significance. Soldering is the process of joining different parts like wires or components on a circuit board that provide mechanical, electrical and thermal connect between them. Keeping the workpiece in contact with air for extended periods, however, can create oxidization, thus ruining the intended junction. This is where the flux comes in: it is a compound that eliminates the oxidized layer from forming on our substrate and helps remove an already-formed oxidized layer so we can form a good connection between the workpieces.
There are three general solder paste types: leaded, lead-free and no-clean. These include no-clean solder pastes, which are solder pastes that do not require to be cleaned after soldering, and water-soluble solder pastes, which are easily soluble in water and harmless to the human body. With the advent of RoHS in the electronics industry, lead-free solder pastes are slowly replacing traditional lead-based products in Europe and other countries. The main types of fluxes used in electronic products are water-soluble, no-clean and conventional rosin fluxes. Each of these classes has their own pros, cons, and intended use cases.
Choose the right kind of flux for the job, for rosin-core based products, it dissolves better at lower temperature, therefore good for fine wiring and projects. A soldering process with rosin flux based on refined turpentine covers the wires optimally. Switch to organic acid fluxes, such as lactic, citric and stearic acids, for improved performance and easier PCB cleaning. At last, there is solid core leaded solder that assists in some scenarios. Solder with a lead content contains a hazardous material, so when working with it be safe and make sure to keep your hands clean of the solder.
