Whichever form of solder you use (wire or paste solder), the material turns to liquid at a specific solder melting temperature. The primary factor that determines this melting point is the material's composition. We will look at these different solder compositions and the temperatures at which they melt to determine their most suitable applications. Read on to learn more!
Contents
What Is Solder?
Solder is a metal alloy that usually consists of Lead and Tin. But these alloy compositions differ because some solder materials have melting points as low as 90°C, while others have as high as 450°C. The typical application of solder is in bonding electronic components to a circuit board, and the alloy's melting temperature determines its application for electronics assembly.
A solder wire coil
For instance, sensitive electrical components need low-temperature solder to avoid heat damage. On the other hand, if the electrical part will function under or generate high temperatures when running, use a solder with a high melting point that exceeds the operating temperature to prevent melting when in use.
An automated high-precision solder-paste printer
Solder Categories
Although there are different types of solder alloys, they fall into these two classifications.
Eutectic Solder
This solder type melts at a single temperature, and some manufacturing/ welding processes need this property because the material melts easily. Similarly, eutectic solder turns into a solid at a single temperature.
Non-Eutectic Solder
Non-eutectic solder does not melt at a single temperature; it has a melting range and begins turning into liquid at a specific temperature. The alloy continues melting and completely turns into a liquid when it reaches the higher end of the melting range.
A soldering iron scooping pickling paste
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Solder Melting Temperature
You can determine solder quality using these three factors: conductivity (should be high), flux content (should be low), and melting point. The melting point of good-quality solder depends on the application.Solder with a composition of 60% tin and 40% Lead has a varying melting range but will begin turning into liquid at 361.4°F (183°C), then completely turn into liquid at 375.8°F (191°C).With balanced ratios (50% tin and 50% Lead), the melting range widens to between 361°F and 421°F. A composition of Tin (30%) and Lead (70%) turns into liquid at a higher temperature of 491°F (255°C) due to the high Lead concentration.
A soldering iron melting solder to join two wires
But melting a Silver solder requires more heat (1145°F/618.3°C), while a zinc-aluminum solder type has a relatively lower melting point of 719.6°F (382°C). Such high melting temperature solders are unsuitable for circuit board assembly because they can damage the PCB or components. But you can use them to solder jewelry.
Solder Melting Temperature Summary
Here is a summary of the soldering temperature or melting point of typical solder alloys.
| Alloy | Melt Range | Peak Reflow |
| Tin (63%), Lead (37%) | 183°C | 210-220°C |
| Tin (48%), Indium (52%) | 118°C | 140-150°C |
| Tin (42%), Bismuth (58%) | 138°C | 160-170°C |
| Tin (42%), Bismuth (57%), Silver (1%) | 138-140°C | 160-170°C |
| Tin (89%), Silver (3%), Bismuth (0.5%), Indium (8%) | 200-205°C | 220-230°C |
| SAC305 - Tin (96.5%), Silver (3%), Copper (0.5%) | 217-221°C | 240-250°C |
| SN100C - Tin (99.3%), Copper (0.7%), Nickel (0.05%), Germanium (0.005%) | 227°C | 245-255°C |
| Tin (88%), Silver (3%), Bismuth (0.5%), Copper (0.4%), Indium (8%) | 197-202°C | 215-225°C |
Manufacturers usually use Bismuth and Indium to lower the solder melting point, so the common low melting temperature solders (150-170°C) include tin-indium, tin-bismuth, and tin-bismuth-silver.Also, Lead-free solders, such as tin-bismuth (58%) and tin-indium (52%), have lower melting points than Lead-based solders, like the tin-lead (37%) alloy. So consider using Lead-free solders, such as tin-bismuth-silver, to bond heat-sensitive components to PCBs due to their low peak-reflow temperatures.
Lead-free solder
High Temperature vs. Low-Temperature Solder
We'll leave Silver out of this comparison because it raises the wire solder temperatures to high levels that might be unsuitable for PCB assembly.
High-Temperature Solder
Pure Lead melts at 621°F/327°C, while pure Tin turns to liquid at 450°F/232°C. So increasing the Lead concentration raises the melting point. For instance, a Tin(10%)-Lead(88%)-Silver(2%) metal alloy turns into molten solder at 299°C (570°F).
A soldering iron with a Silver solder
Such solder alloys are ideal for welding components that operate in hot environments, like automotive, aviation, oil & gas extraction, etc.But you might have noticed that all soldiers contain some percentage of Tin. Although expensive, Tin has the advantage of having better wetting properties than Lead. So most manufacturers make Tin-based solders to give better bonding.
Low-Temperature Solder
Low-temperature solders contain higher tin concentrations mixed with other metals like Cadmium, Bismuth, and Indium. These materials have a melting temperature ranging from 47°C (117°F) to 160°C (320°F) and are suitable for the following soldering process applications.
- Mounting components on flexible PCBs
- Step or second-side PCB soldering to avoid disturbing standard lead-free solder joints or removing soldered components.
- Assembling heat-sensitive components
A technician soldering an electronic PCB
Low-temperature soldering also minimizes thermal energy requirements, which reduces power consumption and lengthens equipment lifespan.
Solder Blends
Solder consists of three primary materials: Tin, Lead, and flux. But from the table above, you will notice other additives or metals like Copper, Silver, and Nickel. These materials diversify the solder's properties in the following ways.
- Antimony: Enhances the solder's mechanical strength.
- Copper: Improves the solder-wetting characteristics while reducing the melting point
- Silver: Increases the alloy's mechanical strength but is not as pliable as Lead
- Nickel: Prevents the dissolution of the UBM (Under Bump Metalization layer)
Other Factors To Consider When Choosing Solder
Besides composition (which determines the melting temperature), consider these two factors before buying wire solder.
Solder Wire Diameter
Electronics wire solder usually has a diameter ranging from 0.5-1.5mm (some are even narrower than 0.5mm). Always match this diameter to the contact and connector size you want to solder.If the wire is too broad, you'll have a difficult time trying to maneuver around components on a dense PCB. This difficulty will increase the chances of thermal stressing or welding parts that don't require soldering.
Cracked solder joints
On the other hand, if the wire is too thin, you'll burn through the solder quickly.
Solid Wire or Flux-Core Solder
Solder wire usually has an active flux core that activates automatically and flows over the soldering area when the solder melts. This type makes the soldering process easier because you don't have to clean the surface using solder flux before welding.
A flux-core solder wire
But with a solid wire solder, you must use solder flux to remove the oxide layer to give adequate wetting ability.
Wrap Up
As you can see, the solder metal composition affects its melting temperature, which determines its welding applications. Other metal blends affect the material's properties, but Tin and Lead are the most critical materials. Generally, Lead-free solder technology lowers the alloy's melting point, while Lead-based solder increases it. And remember to check the solder's diameter and core (flux or flux-free solder) if using a wire.
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