#FLUX MEANING ACTIVATOR#

The way the activator package does this depends on the formula. But the oxygen in the air we breathe wants to remake a nice oxide layer all over the metal. The flux and its activator package just worked very hard to make a clear, solderable surface. It is very important to prevent reoxidation of the cleaned surface before the solder flows. This leaves a clean metal surface to which the solder can bond.Ī good flux keeps the metal surface clean and oxide-free Any dissolved oxides and dirt are moved out of the way by the flux to make room for the molten solder alloy. Finally, the acid removes oxides by converting them to soluble metal salts. In other words, this means the wetting agent mixes with the oils to make them easier to remove, much like how detergent will make it easier to remove greasy foods and oils from a dirty pan.

Then it gets under any dirt or other foreign material to aid in lifting it. First the oils on the surface are penetrated and emulsified by the wetting agent. The specific chemicals that accomplish the final cleaning of the surface before soldering make up the flux’s activator package. This is the main reason why most fluxes are acidic in nature. They will not stick to a metal surface covered with oxides, oil, or dirt. Heavy applications are usually only necessary when the flux has not been properly formulated to efficiently wet the surface. Alternatively, excessive application of flux can result in poor control of soldering conditions because the volume of flux will vary from part to part. Less flux means that cost goes down and that should make everyone happier. You end up using less flux to solder an area than if there was no wetting agent. A good wetting agent leads to the flux being more efficient. A wetting agent is also known as a surfactant. The thing in the flux that allows it to spread effectively is called the wetting agent. A flux that doesn’t wet to the surface will stay where you put it and not clean any other areas.

To make a short story long…Ī good flux spreads itself on the metal surfaceĪ flux that spreads itself on the surface properly will look flatter and cover more surface area.

To make a long story short, fluxes typically are aqueous solutions containing a solvent, activator package and a wetting agent. Effective flux formulations are designed to do all of these things. Finally, it must promote the spreading of the solder on the surface of the metal. It must clean the metal surface and keep it clean until the molten solder alloy reaches it. First, it must effectively spread on the metal to be soldered. It’s a great multi-tasker and fulfills many roles.Ī flux’s purpose can be broken down into several parts. No matter the final application, one thing rings true: You need flux to solder. From radiators to batteries, models to vintage cars – soldering allows you to bond metal to metal at lower temperatures than brazing or welding. You might be soldering for repairs or a hobby. Your process may be part of fabricating or manufacturing. Flux plays a crucial role in the soldering process. “What is flux? What is it for and why do we need more of it?” These are questions pondered by engineers, technicians and predictably, those in your purchasing department.

Flux meaning