Kathy

Provided you use a reasonably strong halide-activated flux, such as RSA
or water-soluble, soldering to nickel is not too difficult. You will
never do it with a flux which is activated only with weakly ionisable
organic acids. Reason: nickel forms almost instantaneously a thin layer
of a tough, refractory oxide. This is what gives it its characteristic
brownish cast and its resistance to corrosion. This layer is fairly
inert to most chemicals except, e.g., hydrogen chloride. A flux
containing, e.g., a quaternary ammonium hydrochoride or its cousin, an
amine hydrochloride, breaks down under the action of heat to release
hydrogen chloride which reacts with the oxide and therefore exposes
bare, clean nickel, which solders reasonably.

Brian

Kathy Bergman wrote:
>
> Hello Tech Netters,
>
> I am looking for some information about nickel finish boards. Is there
> anything that has to be done to the nickel before soldering? Activation?
>
> Thanks
> K Bergman
>
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