Electronics Forum | Thu Jan 03 14:01:24 EST 2008 | fsw
Davef, thnx for your reply. Sorry, forgot to clarify "our normal soldering process". We use standard Sn/Pb & SAC305 for our non RoHS & RoHS requirements. We only have a "No Clean" process, no aqueous flux is used. Hence our flux will be mild. As susp
Electronics Forum | Thu Jan 03 11:00:03 EST 2008 | patrickbruneel
As Dave said stainless steel can not be soldered using fluxes designed for electronics. The only way this could be done is to spot plate copper or tin where you want to make the solder connection.
Electronics Forum | Fri Jan 04 14:17:12 EST 2008 | ck_the_flip
So, I'd have to grind the living sh#t out of my wedding ring, and then use phosphoric acid based flux that can kill a small animal in order to solder stainless steel. Cool!
Electronics Forum | Fri Jan 04 16:02:56 EST 2008 | fsw
All, The reason SS (stainless steel) was being considered is - customer wnats to reduce Ni or basically eliminate it. Anyway, seems that soldering SS for electronics is not going to be an easy option. Suggestions for different plating has been forwa
Electronics Forum | Fri Jan 04 16:15:05 EST 2008 | ck_the_flip
Good move. Again, stainless can NOT be soldered with standard materials used in electronic manufacturing, as everyone agrees in this thread. Additionally, the physical properties of stainless have to be altered in order for soldering to take place.
Electronics Forum | Thu Jan 03 17:39:34 EST 2008 | flipit
Why are you using stainless steel? Corrosion resistance? Can the stainless be gold plated? I think this can occur metallurgically. Maybe nickel first then gold. Why are you removing the nickel? Nickel is somewhat magnetic. Had an application onc
Electronics Forum | Tue Jan 08 18:24:32 EST 2008 | jmelson
If your wedding ring ever gets hot enough to melt solder, I sure hope your finger isn't in it at the time! On the original question, most stainless alloys have quite a bit of Nickel in them, so going to stainless will not ELIMINATE nickel, although
Electronics Forum | Thu Jan 03 16:46:10 EST 2008 | ck_the_flip
Stainless steel can NOT be soldered with the solder that is used in electronics, be it Sn63 or SAC305. I have 1st hand experience in this. Solder will NOT wet to it no matter how much flux is applied, or what type of flux is applied. Again, I have
Electronics Forum | Thu Jan 03 17:30:27 EST 2008 | davef
Consider conductive epoxy. Among the suppliers that make the stuff are: * Master Bond [154 Hobart St, Hackensack, NJ 07601; 201-343-8983 F201-343-2132 http://www.masterbond.com] * Chomerics [Parker Hannifin, 77 Dragon Ct, Woburn, MA 01801; 781-935-4
Electronics Forum | Mon Jan 07 12:12:55 EST 2008 | ck_the_flip
Another thing I'm curious about. What is the "functional purpose" of soldering stainless? Solder coatings generally prevent oxidation on surfaces, but why would somebody solder STAINLESS? Stainless, by nature, is resistant to rust, and hence, oxid
