News

Flux for wave soldering processes and selective soldering processes

Stannol Header image3

A flux is used in soft soldering to safely remove oxides and other impurities from circuit boards and components. This is what makes a reliable solder connection possible in the first place.

The optimum choice of flux is crucial for success in wave and selective soldering processes in electronics production and is influenced by a variety of factors. Both the specific area of application and the soldering technology used must be carefully considered. The requirements can vary greatly depending on the area of application and require a customized assessment.

STANNOL understands the complexity of this decision and offers a wide range of fluxes - from water-based to traditional solvent-based products, with or without resins, taking into account specific material compatibilities. Our product variety has been continuously adapted to the latest technical standards since 1879 to provide a reliable solution for every challenge.

To make your choice easier, STANNOL has developed an innovative product selector that gives you a clear overview of our products and helps you to find the perfect flux for your specific needs:

To make your choice easier, STANNOL has developed an innovative product selector that gives you a clear overview of our products and helps you to find the perfect flux for your specific needs:

Flux | Stannol

Below we would like to introduce you to the most important products from our flux range. We would be happy to present many other available special fluxes from our range to you in a personal meeting.

LH 3
Lee Hatzikiriakos
Production Engineering / IPC-A-610 CIS (IPC Specialist)
MI 1
Miron Shabani
Field Service Production Engineering / IPC-A-610 CIS (IPC Specialist)

Electronic flux

Today more than ever, electronics production requires highly developed flux systems that meet the strict and diverse requirements. The products in our EF series are in line with these high standards, not least thanks to their extensive variety and wide range of applications. A significant part of this range has been specifically designed for use with the latest spray flux systems to ensure optimum performance and reliability in modern electronics production.

Activations for every application

Our EF flux series offers a selection of different activation strengths to ensure the ideal activation for each soldering process according to the specific solderability and reliability requirements. For example, a variant with very low activation is suitable for state-of-the-art full-tunnel nitrogen systems, while a stronger activation is the better choice for soldering on older equipment or for surfaces that are difficult to solder. This flexibility enables precise adaptation to the conditions of your production process in order to achieve optimum results.

High to very high electrical safety

The reliability and residues of the no-clean fluxes after the soldering process are decisive for the selection of a suitable flux. Within our completely halogen-free EF series, you will find products that cover a broad spectrum - from variants without resin to those with minimal amounts of activator and even very universally applicable fluxes. This diversity makes it possible to fully meet the specific needs of modern electronics production. A key feature of all EF fluxes is the guarantee of high to very high electrical safety, even with minimal amounts of residue on the soldered PCBs, which underlines their reliability.

Electronic flux in comparison

Compared to flux EF330, flux EF350 offers a significant increase in the insulation resistance of the flux residues thanks to a carefully balanced addition of resins. It also minimizes the formation of unwanted solder beads, thus optimizing the quality of the solder joints. The fluxes in the EF200 series are specially designed for use in full-tunnel nitrogen systems. Thanks to their weaker activation and lower solids content, they leave less residue on the PCB, resulting in cleaner processing. EF270F, on the other hand, has been specially developed for application using a foam fluxer and impresses with its ability to produce a uniformly fine-pored foam crown, which ensures optimum flux distribution during the soldering process.

The primary goal in developing the EF250 flux was to minimize contamination that could be caused by the flux itself. The use of EF250 not only significantly reduces the cleaning effort of the production systems, but also reduces the residues on the assemblies. Reliable wetting of the solder joints is achieved without compromising the established test standards for electrical safety. This flux therefore represents an efficient and reliable solution that simplifies production processes while ensuring the quality of the end products.


Greenconnect flux

STANNOL is committed to protecting the environment by providing a range of environmentally friendly fluxes. These innovative products are based on bio-ethanol, a sustainable alternative to conventional ethanol. For users who prefer a different option, we also offer products based on water instead of isopropanol (IPA). These environmentally friendly alternatives underline our commitment to offering effective solutions with a reduced environmental impact, without compromising on performance or quality.

EF350 Organic

EF350 Bio, a halogen-free activated no-clean flux, sets new standards in wetting ability. It has been specially developed to ensure outstanding performance on a wide range of surfaces including OSP, Ni/Au, HAL, chemically treated tin and chemically treated silver. It is suitable for both lead-free and leaded solder alloys, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of soldering processes. The EF350 Bio thus combines environmentally friendly innovation with high efficiency and reliability.

The EF350 Bio is characterized by its universal applicability, which makes it an optimal choice for various soldering processes. It is not only ideal for wave soldering, but also shows its strengths in the field of selective soldering. Particularly noteworthy is its suitability for use in spray fluxers, where it impresses with its excellent wetting properties and its adaptability to various surfaces and solder alloys. The EF350 Bio thus combines flexibility and high performance for efficient and reliable soldering processes.

The use of bio-ethanol in our fluxes contributes significantly to reducing the carbon footprint compared to traditional alcohol-based products. A key benefit for our customers is that extensive testing has confirmed the possibility of a direct 1:1 replacement of the flux without the need to adjust process parameters. This seamless integration into existing production processes facilitates the transition to more environmentally friendly solutions without having to compromise on the usual quality and performance.


Water-based fluxes

WF300S

STANNOL's environmentally friendly, water-based fluxes offer an outstanding opportunity to reduce the CO2 footprint of your production processes by up to 90 percent. The WF300S is at the forefront of these innovations: It is a halogen-free, low-solids flux specifically designed to meet the requirements of consumer electronics manufacturing in normal or nitrogen atmospheres. A particular focus is on minimizing solder beads between adjacent connections to increase the quality and reliability of solder joints. In addition, the WF300S shows its strength particularly on surfaces that are difficult to solder, such as oxidized copper, thus ensuring effective and environmentally friendly production.

WF130 and WF131

The WF130 and WF131 mark a significant advance in the development of water-based ORL0 fluxes that achieve outstanding soldering results. These fluxes are characterized by their ability to leave minimal amounts of electrically harmless residue after soldering, while having an extremely low corrosion potential. A true innovation in the industry, they are completely halogen-free and contain no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Their exceptionally low corrosive potential allows them to be classified as L0 - a rarity for water-based fluxes. These properties make WF130 and WF131 ideal solutions for applications where environmental compatibility and high reliability of solder joints are paramount.

The main difference between WF131 and other fluxes is its ability to further reduce the level of residue, resulting in a slight compromise in the form of a slightly narrower process window. Implementing water-based fluxes into existing manufacturing processes may require a thorough review of current equipment technology and the specific application. To make this transition as smooth as possible, our team is ready to support you with on-site expertise and practical advice. We will help you find the optimal solution for your requirements and ensure a successful integration of environmentally friendly flux technology.


Organic flux for selective soldering

SF1000 Bio

The STANNOL soldering flux SF1000 Bio, a formulation specially developed for selective soldering of electronic assemblies, combines environmental awareness with technical precision. The low solids content, combined with a specially formulated, halogen-free activation, enables exceptional wetting properties on a wide range of surfaces such as OSP, Ni/Au and HAL. It is not only optimized for lead-free solder alloys, but is also flexible enough for use in other soldering processes such as wave and dip soldering. Compared to conventional alcohol-based fluxes, SF1000 Bio contributes to reducing the CO2 footprint and thus promotes more sustainable production.


Solar flux

EF160 Bio PV and EF180 Bio PV

The EF160 Bio PV and EF180 Bio PV No-Clean fluxes mark a significant step forward for the photovoltaic module industry by being specifically tailored to the high demands of this industry. These products are free from halogens and resins and have a low solids content, making them ideal for the manufacture of solar modules. The EF180 Bio PV offers a slightly higher solids content and stronger activation compared to the EF160 Bio PV, which allows it to be adapted to different soldering requirements.

Both fluxes guarantee excellent solderability in module assembly, whether by IR heating or convection, and can be applied manually to the ribbon or processed in automated tabber/stringer systems using spray fluxers. The carefully developed activator systems of the fluxes ensure that no visible residues remain after the soldering process, which increases the quality and aesthetics of the solar modules.

A key feature of these fluxes is that they belong to the greenconnect series, which is characterized by a bio-based content of 95% in accordance with DIN EN 16785-2. The use of bioethanol in these formulations also contributes to reducing the CO2 footprint and supports the sustainable development of the photovoltaic industry.

EF200 Bio PV

EasyFlux EF200 Bio PV sets new standards in the treatment of solar cells and other sensitive surfaces by providing outstanding wetting capability through its halogen-free activation. This special formulation not only ensures excellent soldering quality, but also minimizes visible residues, making it an optimal solution for processes where the absolute cleanliness of surfaces is crucial.

As part of the environmentally conscious greenconnect series, the EF200 Bio PV underlines the commitment to sustainability and the protection of our planet. The use of bio-ethanol in its composition contributes significantly to the reduction of CO2 emissions and supports the manufacturing industry in achieving its ecological goals. With EF200 Bio PV, you are not only choosing a highly efficient soldering solution, but also making a valuable contribution to environmental protection.

X33-08i PV

The STANNOL solder flux X33-08i PV is a customized solution for the photovoltaic industry using an advanced alcohol-based formula. It is free of both rosin and halogens and is characterized by a low solids content, which makes it particularly gentle on the sensitive surfaces of solar cells. Thanks to its excellent wetting properties, X33-08i PV is a first-class choice for photovoltaic companies that require a flux that delivers reliable soldering results while maintaining the integrity of the solar cells.


Special flux

AK-1 Bio

The AK-1 Bio, a halogen-free no-clean flux from our greenconnect series, was specifically developed for applications such as cable tinning, tinning on component connections and soldering on copper or copper-passivated surfaces. It is characterized by the use of environmentally friendly bio-ethanol, which makes it a sustainable choice for specialized soldering work.

500-17/1

Flux 500-17/1 has been specially designed for the safe tinning of enameled copper wires. Developed for the dip soldering process, its exceptionally high solids content ensures that even at high temperatures in the dip soldering bath, sufficient active flux remains on the component to guarantee a high-quality soldering result. Even under the influence of high bath temperatures, at which parts of the flux can evaporate, the soldering quality remains unaffected.


Semi-aqueous fluxes

With older soldering systems, the processing of water-based fluxes can often be challenging due to insufficient preheating performance. An effective solution to significantly reduce VOC emissions is offered by fluxes with a solvent base consisting of a mixture of water and alcohols. This special category of fluxes offers the advantage of lower flash points and a 50 percent lower VOC content compared to purely alcohol-based variants. They are also free from resins and halogens, making them a more environmentally friendly yet high-performance option.

HW139 and HW240

The semi-aqueous flux HW139, with a solids content of 2.5% by weight, has proven reliable over the years for a wide range of soldering tasks. Its easy application with a spray fluxer makes it particularly user-friendly. As the latest innovation, HW240 offers the same high soldering quality and wetting ability as HW139, but with the advantage of significantly reduced residue levels thanks to a unique combination of activators.

Latest posts