Indium Flux-Cored Wire
Indium Corporation uses only “conflict-free” and grade A (per ASTM B32) metals, as well as other high purity metals for its flux-cored wire. Our materials have been tested and certified to meet IPC J-STD-004B and other relevant industry specifications, including the legacy military specification QQ-S-571f. Indium Corporation’s flux-cored wire is well known for its:
- Void-free
- Evenly layer winding
- Low oxide shiny appearance over time
- Non-offensive odor for the 800 series and 200 series fluxes
CORE 230-RC
Indium Corporation’s CORE 230-RC is a formula developed to meet the demanding requirements of robotic and laser soldering. It incorporates a highly effective activator package with new “no-spatter” technology in a high-reliability flux media. CORE 230-RC is fully REACH-compliant, containing no REACH substance of very high concern (SVHCs). CORE 230-RC is not used solely for robotic and laser soldering since it also performs exceptionally well in hand soldering applications. The no-spatter feature eliminates flux spatters that can burn operators’ hands.
Process Recommendations
- Match the tip size to the part to be soldered
- Apply the solder wire to the joint, not to the soldering iron tip
- Use the lowest temperature possible
- 610-700°F (320-370°C) for SnPb and Pb-free
- Surface mount (SMT) soldering should be completed in 1-2 seconds
- Plated through-hole (PTH) soldering should be completed in 1-3 seconds
- The robotic soldering process set-up is highly customizable and depends on the assembly being soldered
- A smooth solder joint appearance requires the correct amount of temperature and time; fine-tuning the process parameters may be required to achieve the best possible outcome
- During robotic soldering, flux build-up and charring may occur; to avoid build-up, increase the iron tip cleaning frequency or reduce the iron tip temperature
Shelf Life
Always store cored wire in a cool, dry environment. The main causes of degraded cored wire reflow performance are the buildup of a thick oxide layer on the surface of the wire, caused by prolonged exposure to higher-than-normal temperature and humidity conditions, or the buildup of lead carbonate on high-lead (>85%) alloy cored wire shipped or stored under very high-humidity conditions.
Residue Removal Recommendations
All of Indium Corporation’s no-clean fluxes, including this formula, are designed to be electrically safe under normal consumer electronic and telecommunication operating conditions. Unless otherwise specified, electrically safe means that the post-soldering residues pass J-STD-004B SIR and ECM testing. However, it is understood that some customers desire to remove residues for cosmetic reasons, improved in-circuit testing, improved compatibility with specific conformal coatings, or where the operating parameters of the circuit board may be in extreme conditions for a prolonged period.
If the removal of no-clean flux residues is desired, most commercially available cleaning agents will be effective. Indium Corporation’s Technical Support Engineers work closely with cleaning agent vendors and have confirmed flux residue removal capabilities from several vendors using their recommended products and parameters. It is unlikely that users of Indium Corporation’s no-clean products will need to change their current residue removal materials and parameters from those currently used. However, when establishing a new process or desiring confirmation of process recommendations, please contact Indium Corporation’s Technical Support Engineers for assistance.
Indium Corporation Compatible Products
- Solder Paste: Indium8.9, 8.9HFA, 8.9HF-1, and 8.9HF
- Wave Flux: WF-9940 (rosin-containing) or WF-9958 (low or no rosin)
- Flux Pen: FP-500 (rosin-containing)
Indium Corporation’s cored wire has been designed to be fully compatible with our solder paste, wave fluxes, and rework fluxes, and is also expected to be compatible with many of our competitors’ products. For example, CORE 230-RC flux-cored wire is not only compatible with Indium8.9HF Solder Paste, but also with our 5.2LS, 8.9 series, 92 series, and 10 series products. Indium Corporation determines compatibility primarily by matching flux chemistry. However, a select number of wave, reflow, and rework product combinations have been thoroughly tested to ensure that the combined flux residues meet the electrical and reliability requirements of IPC J-STD-004B. Please contact Indium Corporation Technical Support if you are interested in knowing about these fully-tested combinations.