Lecture

Soldering and Brazing: Fundamentals and Techniques

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In course

MSE-464: Assembly techniques

Introduction to the assembly of materials by homogeneous or heterogeneous joints (welding, bonding, mechanical assembly). Mechanical and environmental resistance of joints. ...

Description

This lecture covers the fundamentals of soldering and brazing, including the role of fluxes and shielding gases. It explains the process steps involved in soldering and brazing, such as cleaning, positioning, heating, and cooling. The lecture also discusses the use of eutectic alloys in soldering, interfaces in solder joints, and high-temperature brazing. It delves into the challenges of brazing aluminum and its alloys, as well as the wetting and filling of joints in brazed or soldered assemblies. Additionally, it explores the use of fluxes, different types of flux compositions, and self-fluxing brazing alloys. The lecture concludes with examples of brazed hybrid metal-ceramic parts and soldering procedures like reflow soldering.

Official source

Related concepts (26)

Brazing

Brazing is a metal-joining process in which two or more metal items are joined together by melting and flowing a filler metal into the joint, with the filler metal having a lower melting point than the adjoining metal. Brazing differs from welding in that it does not involve melting the work pieces. Brazing differs from soldering through the use of a higher temperature and much more closely fitted parts than when soldering. During the brazing process, the filler metal flows into the gap between close-fitting parts by capillary action.

Soldering

Soldering (USˈsɒdərɪŋ; UKˈsoʊldərɪŋ) is a process of joining two metal surfaces together using a filler metal called solder. The soldering process involves heating the surfaces to be joined and melting the solder, which is then allowed to cool and solidify, creating a strong and durable joint. Soldering is commonly used in the electronics industry for the manufacture and repair of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and other electronic components. It is also used in plumbing and metalwork, as well as in the manufacture of jewelry and other decorative items.

Flux (metallurgy)

In metallurgy, a flux () is a chemical cleaning agent, flowing agent, or purifying agent. Fluxes may have more than one function at a time. They are used in both extractive metallurgy and metal joining. Some of the earliest known fluxes were sodium carbonate, potash, charcoal, coke, borax, lime, lead sulfide and certain minerals containing phosphorus. Iron ore was also used as a flux in the smelting of copper.

Solder

Solder (UKˈsɒldə,_ˈsəʊldə; NA: ˈsɒdər) is a fusible metal alloy used to create a permanent bond between metal workpieces. Solder is melted in order to wet the parts of the joint, where it adheres to and connects the pieces after cooling. Metals or alloys suitable for use as solder should have a lower melting point than the pieces to be joined. The solder should also be resistant to oxidative and corrosive effects that would degrade the joint over time. Solder used in making electrical connections also needs to have favorable electrical characteristics.

Solder paste

Solder paste is used in the manufacture of printed circuit boards to connect surface mount components to pads on the board. It is also possible to solder through-hole pin in paste components by printing solder paste in and over the holes. The sticky paste temporarily holds components in place; the board is then heated, melting the paste and forming a mechanical bond as well as an electrical connection. The paste is applied to the board by jet printing, stencil printing or syringe; then the components are put in place by a pick-and-place machine or by hand.

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