Monday, February 23, 2015

How Do Flux Remover Pens Work?



When soldering electronics and other metal components, applying flux can drastically improve the strength of the resulting joints. By absorbing impurities and stopping oxidization layers from separating bonding surfaces, fluxes serve crucial functions in electronics, stained glass and other projects.

Many fluxes and other acidic purifying agents have the undesirable drawback of being corrosive over long-term periods. The excess flux applied to a solder joint could potentially contribute to the degradation of a circuit board or component lead. Some inorganic fluxes even incorporate potentially harmful chemical compounds that may irritate skin or act as carcinogens upon inadvertent contact or ingestion.

While certain organically derived rosin fluxes are unlikely to cause too many problems, it's generally best to remove any excess flux from a board as soon as you're done soldering. To make the job easier, flux remover solutions contain special cleaners that neutralize the acids in flux without compromising a solder joint.

Larger PCB manufacturers often apply removers in big batches, but for the common hobbyist or individual professional, flux remover pens are usually the most economical option. Like many flux pens, these precision devices feature spongy tips that let users dispense appropriate quantities of flux remover by hand on a case by case basis. As a result, they're highly popular among those who work with SMD components, reflow ovens and rework stations.

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