Advantages of Using Tin Solder Paste
Posted by Alphaassembly on February 23rd, 2017
Lead is a common component of solder, but it can be harmful to your health, especially when you are constantly exposed to it. Tin solder paste can be an alternative to lead-based solder pastes. However, applications that require excellent repeatability in print volume may require tin-lead solder pastes to boost productivity and reduce waste. Tin-lead solder pastes are designed to fulfill the demands of the tin-soldering process and the highest manufacturing standards. Suppliers of materials for electronics assembly, photovoltaic, LED lighting, and power electronics industries offer lead-free, halogen-free, and no-clean solder pastes for a wide variety of applications, such as low temperature processing, printed circuit board assembly, and fine feature printing.
Solder is technically a metal alloy with a low melting point. Because of its lower melting point, a solder wire can melt easily under allow amount of heat from a soldering iron. In electronics manufacturing, tin solder paste may be preferred due to its natural lower melting point. Most commonly used tin solder pastes come with lead, but the tin content is usually higher to ensure a lower melting point. It is common to find a tin solder paste with a mixture of 60 percent tin and 40 percent lead (60Sn/40Pb), but there are other variations, too, such as 63 percent tin and 37 percent lead (63Sn/37Pb).
Tin solder paste can melt at around 180 °C, and lead-free solders melt at temperatures that are 30 to 40 degrees higher. Higher temperatures used in lead-free soldering may produce more fumes, and solder fume has been linked to occupational asthma. Hence, tin solder paste can be more ideal because of their lower melting point. It is also widely available and you can get it in concentrations ranging between 5% to 70% by weight. More tin content in the solder means higher shear and tensile strengths.
Tin can enhance the wetting properties of lead, which itself is known for its poor wetting qualities. In electronics, PCB components can be linked to the board and other components effectively using soldered joints. Tin solder paste has largely replaced the solid solder in miniature PCB joints that have surface mount components.
About the Author:
Alpha Assembly Solutions Inc. is a premier company engaged in the development and manufacture of high quality electronics assembly materials. Since the year of its inception, way back in 1872, the company has played its role on the frontline of innovation, bringing many first-to-market products to the fore thereby, creating a premier niche for itself in the market.
