Monday 28 November 2016

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Lead-Bearing Solder Paste

Solder pastes can be made using lead to help electronics manufacturers achieve higher yield and throughput, while lowering their total cost of ownership on many different applications. Lead solder paste can bond metal and electronic components permanently, and it is typically sold as tin-lead (Sn-Pb) solders, which are also known as ‘soft solders’. The product is commercially available, so it is easy to acquire, and the tin concentrations are often between five percent and 70 percent by weight. The higher the tin concentration, the higher the shear and tensile strengths of the solder will be.

Advantages of Using Lead-Bearing Solder Paste
•    The tin in lead-tin solders enhances the wetting property of the alloy, since lead has poor wetting qualities. This way, lead solder pastes have become a better alternative to solid solders, especially in printed circuit board assembly.
•    The melting point of a tin-lead solder paste is at 183 degrees Celsius (361 degrees Fahrenheit), making it safer for certain applications where the temperature is not likely to rise to that level and cause the lead to release toxic fumes.
•    In tin-lead soldering, lead solder paste enables higher and consistent print volume repeatability. Lead solder paste can be handy at the prototyping stage and for hobbyists, too.

Disadvantages of Using Lead-Bearing Solder Paste

If you are buying a lead solder paste, you need to make sure that the tin concentration is enough for the application. There are a few disadvantages to using lead solder paste:
•    It is not recommended for plumbing and food grade applications.
•    Lead-tin solder paste can dissolve gold plating, resulting in brittle intermetallics.
•    Lead solder paste can be poisonous and toxic, so you need to make sure that it is carefully formulated and manufactured. Consider buying lead solder paste only from a reputable and established manufacturer that has years of experience in formulating and making solder pastes in a wide range of alloys.

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