Soldering Standards 140

American Society for Testing and Materials

ASTM. An organization that writes and updates standards for a broad range of materials. The American Society for Testing and Materials's standards have been adopted across the United States, as well as in many other countries.

American Welding Society

AWS. A professional organization that supports and promotes the welding industry and related processes. The American Welding Society writes numerous welding codes, including those concerned with torch soldering, also known as hard soldering.

arsenic

A metallic element that is considered a contaminant in solders. Arsenic content is one attribute found in J-STD-001.

ASTM

The American Society for Testing and Materials. An organization that writes and updates standards for a broad range of materials. ASTM's standards have been adopted across the United States, as well as in many other countries.

ASTM B32-20

ASTM's standard document regarding soldering. ASTM B32-20 covers the chemical makeup of solders and fluxes, as well as the testing methods used to determine the appropriateness of solders and fluxes.

AWS

The American Welding Society. A professional organization that supports and promotes the welding industry and related processes. The AWS writes numerous welding codes, including those concerned with torch soldering, also known as hard soldering.

brazing

A process that joins two base metals by melting a filler metal at a temperature above 840°F (449°C) but below the melting point of the base metals. Brazing differs from welding because only the filler metal is melted.

contaminants

Any substance not original to a solder that may interfere with the efficacy of the joint. Contaminants with low melting points may result in the solder failing.

electrical conduction

The ability to effectively convey an electric current with low resistance. Good electrical conduction is a often a desired property in soldered joints.

electrostatic discharge

ESD. The transfer of electrical charge between bodies with different electrical potentials. Electrostatic discharge can cause static electricity to build up in a person's body or ignite flammable materials.

filler metal

A type of metal added to a joint during a fusing process like soldering, brazing, or welding. Filler metals for soldering are known as solders.

flux

A cleaning agent that allows for better wetting of components onto solder paste. Flux composition is specified in a number of soldering standard documents.

flux cores

The center of a solder wire that is composed of flux. Flux cores clean the component as the solder melts during the soldering process.

fuel gas

A gas that can store potential energy and release it as thermal energy that can be used to perform work. Fuel gases are mixed with oxygen to perform oxyfuel processes such as welding and cutting.

hard soldering

A method of soldering using a torch rather than a soldering iron. Hard soldering, also known as torch soldering, is used to combine large pieces of metal that are not structurally significant.

ICC

International Code Council. A professional organization that develops building codes used throughout the United States, as well as in other countries. The ICC maintains the International Plumbing Code.

International Code Council

ICC. A professional organization that develops building codes used throughout the United States, as well as in other countries. The International Code Council maintains the International Plumbing Code.

International Organization for Standardization

ISO. A non-governmental organization based in Switzerland that develops and establishes standards, rules, and guidelines designed to ensure that products, processes, and services are fit for their purposes. The International Organization for Standardization's guidelines form the basis for the soldering standards of other organizations.

International Plumbing Code

IPC. A building code maintained by the ICC. The International Plumbing Code contains plumbing standards, including standards regarding soldering piping.

IPC

An association, originally called the Institute for Printed Circuits, connecting electronics industries. IPC helps set and maintain soldering standards for the electronics industry.

IPC

An association, originally called the Institute for Printed Circuits, connecting electronics industries. The IPC helps set and maintain soldering standards for the electronics industry.

IPC

International Plumbing Code. A building code maintained by the ICC. The IPC contains plumbing standards, including standards regarding soldering piping.

ISO

International Organization for Standardization. A non-governmental organization based in Switzerland that develops and establishes standards, rules, and guidelines designed to ensure that products, processes, and services are fit for their purposes. The ISO's guidelines form the basis of the soldering standards of other organizations.

join

The process of permanently connecting two materials. Manufacturers join metals through soldering, welding, and brazing.

J-STD-001

A standards document published by IPC regarding soldering on printed circuit boards. J-STD-001 details both the materials used for soldering and the practices involved in soldering.

lead-free solders

Solder metals that contain less than 0.2% lead. Lead-free solder is becoming more common due to the health hazards of prolonged lead exposure.

leads

Conductors that provide an easy path for electricity to flow. The shape and number of leads varies for different electronic components.

organic

Derived from a living organism. Organic water-soluble fluxes are more active than rosin-based fluxes but less active than inorganic water-soluble fluxes.

powdered solder

A type of solder that is manufactured as a fine powder. Powdered solder is placed along the area that will be soldered and melts to join workpieces.

printed circuit board assemblies

PCBA. A layered construction of conductive and nonconductive material with various electronic components soldered to it. Printed Circuit Board Assemblies can be found in almost all electronic devices.

printed circuit boards

PCBs. A layered construction of material used to mechanically support and electrically connect electronic components. Printed circuit boards use conductive pathways, or traces, etched from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive surface.

resin

A substance made from either synthetic or natural polymers. Resins are added to flux to improve wetting in solder.

resistors

An electronic component that regulates, limits, and opposes the flow of electrical current. Resistors tend to convert electrical energy into heat.

rosin

A substance derived from the sap of pine trees. Rosin is used in flux to improve wetting in a solder.

solder

A metal or alloy with a low melting point that is melted to join materials. Solders are filler metals that are specific to soldering.

solder wire

A form of solder that is most often sold in one-pound spools. Solder wire is the most common form of solder used for hand soldering.

soldering

A joining method that uses a heated filler metal to create a joint between metal parts. Soldering filler metal is melted at temperatures below 840 °F (450 °C).

soldering iron

A tool used to transfer heat to a metal surface in order to melt solder and form a joint. Soldering irons are typically powered by electricity.

standards

An established policy regarding specific product requirements or a particular practice or method. Standards for soldering are maintained by a variety of organizations depending on the industry.

terminal

A connecting point in a circuit where a wire can be attached to connect a component. A terminal may be the end of a wire or a fastener attached to a wire.

thermal resistance

A material's ability to remain unchanged due to exposure to extremely high or low temperatures. Thermal resistance allows materials to maintain their properties and integrity even at extreme temperatures.

torch soldering

A method of soldering using a torch rather than a soldering iron. Torch soldering, also known as hard soldering, is used to combine large pieces of metal that are not structurally significant.

transistors

A device used to amplify a signal or open and close a circuit. In a computer, transistors function as an electronic switch.