|
|
Article: Stirring the pot: lead-free solders can cause severe corrosion in wave-soldering equipment.(Electronics Assembly)
- Article from:
- Assembly
- Article date:
- October 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 BNP Media. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Wave soldering can easily be converted to a lead-free process. However, assemblers will need to modify existing equipment and tightly control process parameters.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Besides a higher melting temperature, the biggest difference between lead-free solder and tin-lead solder is that lead-free alloys can seriously corrode components of the wave soldering machine. This is no small concern: Failure of a solder pot due to corrosion could severely injure an operator.
In wave soldering equipment manufactured before the advent of lead-free solder, the solder pot, valves, ducts, impellers and other parts in contact with molten metal are ...