Genny: Good point. I think the problem may be when soldering with leadfree solder directly to brass containing 4%Pb does the amount of Pb dissolved in the solderjoint exceed the 0.1% BW limit of RoHS. Regards Mike B. -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Genny Gibbard Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 10:01 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] PB-Free Solder and Brass Would brass fall under exemption #6 from the directive annex? Lead as an alloying element in steel containing up to 0,35 % lead by weight, aluminium containing up to 0,4 % lead by weight and as a copper alloy containing up to 4 % lead by weight. Which may mean the brass can contain Pb and still be "compliant", but solder used for soldering to it cannot. That might explain the need for Pbfree solder - to maintain RoHS compliance. However, I'm not a metallurgist, so ... Genny. -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David D. Hillman Sent: March 21, 2006 11:12 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] PB-Free Solder and Brass Hi Mark! One additional comment to add to Mike's information. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. One potential problem when soldering to a brass alloy is the zinc content causing long term solder joint integrity issues. De-zincification is where the zinc preferentially diffuses into the solder joint potentially causing solder joint failures. The way to avoid this phenomena is to plate the brass with a barrier layer such as copper or nickel. You might check to see if the contacts have a barrier layer. Good Luck. Dave Hillman Rockwell Collins [log in to unmask] "Barmuta, Mike" <Mike.Barmuta@FLU KE.COM> To Sent by: TechNet [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> cc Subject 03/21/2006 09:51 Re: [TN] PB-Free Solder and Brass AM Please respond to TechNet E-Mail Forum <[log in to unmask]> ; Please respond to "Barmuta, Mike" <Mike.Barmuta@FLU KE.COM> Hi Mark: First of all it doesn't make sense why the customer wants to use a leadfree solder on a leaded (C360 brass) component. It won't be RoHS compliant. What is there reason for asking for leadfree solder? However if ours is not to question why then give them what they are asking for; leadfree solder. You may have oxidized parts and need a stronger flux/deoxidizer. As a test try dipping a few in 5% sulfuric acid for 20-30 seconds at room temp, rinse well with cold water and dry immediately. See if they wet better. If they do then use the acid predip or a stronger fluxing agent. If they don't you could always tin plate them along with a copper or nickel barrier plate and solder to the tin. Regards Michael Barmuta Staff Engineer Fluke Corp. Everett WA 425-446-6076 -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mark Clark Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 6:52 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [TN] PB-Free Solder and Brass I have a customer that is required to use a Lead Free solder to attach some brass components (battery contacts) to a PCB. What he is experiencing is the brass will not tin using this solder. Anyone have any suggestions: Solder required for use: Cookson Electronics - Alpha Cleanline 7000 Alloy 96.5Sn 3.0Ag 0.5Cu Flux: P2 The contact material is: 360Brass His customer is in a rush for these components, and is demanding the Pb-free be used. BTW - the good old fashion No-clean and Rosin (both of these have lead in them) work great. TIA Mark Clark Avalon Engineering, LLC 2179 Fourth Street, Suite 2D PO Box 10789 White Bear Lake, MN 55110-0789 Phone: 651-426-8599 x202 Fax: 651-426-4418 mailto:[log in to unmask] www.avalon-us.com --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- This message (including any attachments) contains confidential and/or proprietary information intended only for the addressee. 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