Hi all, production handed me a triangular piece of bar solder used in a solder pot. KESTE(R) is embossed on the surface, (the R has been cut off) but any other numbers are gone. What's the easiest way to try and identify what type of solder it is?
Depending on what measurement is easier for you, you could get a pretty good idea of how much lead is in it by measuring either density or melting point (solidus / liquidus).
The easiest way is to use a xrf meter. But not practical unless you alread y have access to such a meter.
I would try to measure the melting temperature and also see if it changes f rom solid to liquid without going mushy.
I suspect you are mostly interested in knowing if it has any lead in the so lder. I do not know how well this would work ,but you can get tests for le ad at places as Lowes. They are intended to test old paint to see if it co ntains lead. Or testing water to see if it has lead in it.
Distinguishing between leaded and non-leaded. An automatic centre punch will indent deeper,bigger cone, in leaded. Try "soldering" a stainless steel sewing needle, non-leaded solder will stick to the needle much more firmly than leaded solder, when you try scraping it off.
Rushing out today I told the production person they could figure it it out by measuring the density... blank stare. "You know, ratio of weight to volume", (nothing) "Archimedes, the crown and the bath tub." "I never heard the story", she says, then smiling, "and I don't go into men's bathrooms."
I'll figure it out on Monday.
George H. Oh and thanks for the specific gravity link.
Hang it in some diluted wine vinegar for a while. If it sweetens the vinegar, it has lead in it.
Or
If it's just the difference between tin/lead and lead-free that matters, heat it to 200'C and see if it melts - an easy way is to solder a large SM component to a PCB and see when it drops off in an oven with a thermocouple next the part.
In high temperature work, this is how you can tell if a subcontractor has used tin/lead against your instructions. The parts fall off :-)
I would guess the difference between, say, 96S, 99C and 100C would be much more difficult. HMP is rarely used, but is pretty nearly all lead and melts at around 300'C.
ElectronDepot website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.