Are you still looking for leaded soldering wire?

Since 1 July 2006, there has been an EU requirement that it is lead-free solder and solder paste that everyone must use in electronics manufacturing. The latest updated version is called RoHs 2, 2011/65 / EU. Lots of different analyzes and tests were preceded in the industry to be able to adapt to the new rules. In the beginning, there were a few different industrial sectors in medicine and the military that were exempted from these rules. The years have passed quickly and now lead-free soldering is an established standard. PCB and component manufacturers have adapted their production to comply with the requirements for lead-free. The manufacturers of solder materials also have a very wide range today. New, more efficient soldering tools and soldering machines have ensured that there will be no major problems with lead-free soldering anymore.

During the lead-in technology period, soldering was always done with a temperature of 370ºC on the soldering tip - this was a rule of thumb. Since lead solder in alloy Sn60 / Pb40 melted at 183ºC, it was considered that just 370ºC was a sufficient level to obtain a good and reliable solder connection. If you mixed in silver, you got alloy Sn62 / Pb36 / Ag2 which melts at 179ºC, a slightly stronger solder joint which also became shinier and wets extremely well.

In the lead-free solder that complies with RoHS directives, the proportion of tin has increased to approximately 96.5%. Other substances include silver, 3%, and copper, 0.5%. This solder is called the SAC305. The lack of lead has meant that the melting temperature has increased to about 217 ºC. So much higher than for leaded solder. Should one raise the peak temperature to a corresponding degree in order to be able to solder in a safe and reliable way, many wonder?

No is the answer to this question. In today's upgraded soldering stations, there is significantly much more energy stored in the soldering tips than before. If the soldering station is also "fast", in other words, it supplies the energy quickly to the tip, so it can be stored in the tip top when you need it at the solder moment, it works really well. With this new technology, it actually means that you can lower the temperature at the station all the way down to 350 ºC with a satisfactory soldering result.

A certain temperature adjustment (increase) may need to be made depending on how many layers the circuit board has, are there via holes nearby or if the component's pad is slightly larger. So even today you can get away with soldering at the same temperature as in the old days.

Then choosing the right flux for the application is a whole science in itself, but we will tell you more about that at a later time. If you want to choose the right one from the beginning, contact us.

The commercial manufacturers use just lead-free solder / solder paste, to comply with current rules and regulations. Soldering for your own use and as a hobby gives you the freedom of choice, but for the sake of the environment, more people should choose lead-free and this is also the current trend.

What is circulating on various blogs in the hobby world is that it is easier to solder with lead and where to get lead solder. Now it is the case that from 1 March 2018, companies may not sell metal alloys that contain more than 0.3% lead to private individuals, but only with the exception of professional use. Permits are required separately for this.

Of course, there are companies that solder lead. However, it is only a matter of time before this particular method disappears, so we recommend that you already solder with lead-free solder.

Never mix lead solder with lead-free, as the soldering point will not correspond to the original strength with reduced transition resistance. Do not use leaded components on lead-free applications. There are methods to de-lead, follow these methods. Do not use the same soldering tip for lead and unleaded. There are methods to bleach the soldering tip as well.

If you want to know more, we can tell you.

Another important environmental factor that arose during lead-free soldering was that much more solder smoke is formed in the soldering process itself. So be sure to use a working system for removing solder smoke. You know that it contains many harmful residues.

We have test protocols that prove this.

All in all, this means in practice that all soldering with solder containing lead today is being phased out and replaced with lead-free alternatives.

We have lots of lead-free alternatives that are suitable replacements.