Hi Steve: Kester's basically doing a CYA, can't blame them. You'll see a
lot of shelflive's for materials that are shorter than their application
lives. Potting/encapsulating materials are a good example. 
The manufacturer has to spec it for the lowest common denominator. 

We use the same 6522 TSF for BGA rework. We store refrigerated until a
syringe is needed. We've had no problem going six months past date of
manufacture (DOM). But as you know every application and
company/manufacturing site is different.


	
Regards
	
Michael Barmuta
	
Staff Engineer
	
Fluke Corp.
	
Everett WA
	
425-446-6076

-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Steve Gregory
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 9:29 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [TN] Tacky Soldering Flux Shelf Life

Hi All!
 
I just got some Kester 6522 Tacky Soldering Flux in today from a
distributor that had it's shelf life exceeded according to Kester's
datasheet. 
 
Shelf life according to the datasheet is three months from the date of
manufacture when stored between 0-10 C (32-50 F.). The flux that was
sent to me was manufactured on 7/17/06. That struck me as a really short
shelf life. The stuff is $23.00 and change for a 30-gram syringe BTW.
 
I called Kester and asked what in the flux changes after three months
and got; "Well the viscosity changes as well as other things, and we
really can't warranty it's performance after three months." I asked;
"What other things besides viscosity?" Once again I got; "Well there's
other properties that will change and we can't guarantee that it will
perform to the specifications that were established, that's why the
shelf life is only three months."
 
So basically he wouldn't tell me what, if anything else, changes besides
the viscosity...
 
If it's only the viscosity, that isn't that big a deal to me, I only use
it at my rework station for BGA rework.
 
Just curious if any of you have used this flux after the 3-month shelf
life and had something bad happen. 
 
Me, I just think it's a way to sell more flux. Because they know with
the advent of ISO and procedures, how everyone tracks consumable
material shelf life, it's a marketing no-brainer...
 
-Steve Gregory-

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