Re:My Business Card Runs Linux
by pkolaczk on Tuesday December 24, 2019 @07:54AM
(#21871686)
I don't get this lead-free hatred on internet forums. People say they can't solder with lead-free, and that it is terrible, and that joints look dull. So much hatred that I actually tried it out. And I found the process is basically just the same and there is nothing to be afraid of. Just set the solder iron temperature a bit higher and that's it. Works like a charm.
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My note was not at all about lead-free hate, actually, since several years, everyone in EU (and I believe in US as well) has been using lead-free solder (ROHS is 2003, if I recall correctly).
As you say it is just a matter of slightly increasing the soldering iron temperature, but it doesn't end there and there may be issues further on (JFYI):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisker_(metallurgy)
It seems like lead-free alloys tend to be more problematic in these - fortunately rare - cases.
But because it is more than 15 years that ROHS came in force, I read in 2019 "and I made it lead-free" like I would read "and I buckled my safety belt" or "I put my helmet on", etc. I see it as "the normal" way, nothing worth a mention (nowadays).
I took a quick look at a rework station in an aeronautic company in France, all leaded solder.
>I took a quick look at a rework station in an aeronautic company in France, all leaded solder.
Very possible, there are a number of (pretty much wide) exemptions even in the last version:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rohs-compliance-and-guidance#wha...
I've heard about whiskers, but isn't it a mostly solved problem now with low Ag alloys like SAC0307?
Bismuth is used as a replacement for lead, if you want lower temperature solder. 58Bi/42Sn alloy is cheap and about as good as Pb/Sn, but is more susceptible to thermal fatigue. I used 57Bi/42Sn/1Ag to solder heatpipes. Works great!