Solder Flux Cleaning

Solder flux is a vital part of electronic design and repair.

Solder flux cleaning. When you re finished with your soldering job you will have less to clean from the tip if you wipe the iron periodically while using it. Because any oxides that remain on a metal surface can result in poor solder connections the chief function of flux is to deoxidize metal surfaces without decomposing. In metallurgy a flux derived from latin fluxus meaning flow is a chemical cleaning agent flowing agent or purifying agent. Flux is used for cleaning metal surfaces before soldering them together.

Inorganic acid flux requires complete cleaning after use to remove the corrosive residues from the surfaces which weaken or destroy the solder joint if left in place. Most come in aerosol cans and are sprayed after the solder. I am looking for alternative ways to clean rosin core silver solder flux paste off of a copper substrate. Inorganic acid flux should not be used for electronic assembly work or electrical work.

The flux acts as an agent to clean oxidation from the surface of the metal so that the melted solder can flow. We are currently blasting the parts but it is labor intensive and costly as well. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Afterward flux residue can be removed from the solder joint with commercial flux removers.

If the board is using a less corrosive type of flux then the board will have to go through a pre cleaning before the flux is applied. They are used in both extractive metallurgy and metal joining. Spot cleaning solder flux residues using brushclean system chemtronics manufactures a large variety flux off brand solder flux residue removers to satisfy many different requirements for example if the cleaner needs to be nonflammable safe on sensitive plastics or have ex. There are all purpose heavy duty no clean rosin and water soluble flux removers.

In situations where the product is mission critical will be conformally coated has high operating voltages among other scenarios cleaning no clean pcbs is necessary. A discussion started in 1998 but continuing through 2019. Wipe a wet sponge across the solder iron s tip after each stroke to avoid buildup on the tip. This solder paste holds the parts in place until the heat.

Cleaning the solder iron s tip while it is in use will result in better soldering work. For boards that are going through the solder reflow process a paste composed of a sticky flux and small spheres of metal solder is used. Some of the earliest known fluxes were sodium carbonate potash charcoal coke borax lime lead sulfide and certain minerals containing phosphorus. Fluxes may have more than one function at a time.