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Lead-free soldering has become the industry standard in electronic manufacturing. However, issues such as oxidation of solder joints and volatilization of flux during the soldering process often lead to decreased product quality. This article explores how to enhance soldering yield by using nitrogen generated by an air compressor. It introduces the advantages of nitrogen in soldering and discusses how to select suitable equipment to achieve this goal.
Table of Contents
Challenges of Lead-Free Soldering in Electronic Products
Advantages of Nitrogen in Soldering and Its Impact on Soldering Yield
Relationship Between Nitrogen Generators and Air Compressors
Advantages of Q-AIR 750D Oil-Free Silent Air Compressor
Who Should Use Silent Air Compressors?
1. Challenges of Lead-Free Soldering in Electronic Products
High Temperature Soldering Operation
Lead-free soldering requires higher temperatures to ensure the reliability of solder joints. This leads to faster volatilization of flux during the soldering process, which affects the quality of solder joints.
Flux Volatilization
Flux volatilizes more rapidly at high temperatures, compromising its protective function on the solder, making solder joints more susceptible to oxidation from external oxygen.
Solder Joint Oxidation Issues
Oxidation of solder joints is a common problem in lead-free soldering. Oxidation results in rough and dull surfaces of solder joints, thereby affecting the reliability and electrical performance of solder joints.
2. Advantages of Nitrogen Gas in Soldering and Its Impact on Solder Yield
The use of nitrogen-assisted soldering equipment effectively alleviates some issues associated with lead-free soldering. Nitrogen serves two purposes: firstly, it creates an inert environment around the soldering iron tip, reducing the likelihood of oxidation which can otherwise reduce heat transfer and solder wetting ability. Secondly, it helps to purge nearby areas of oxygen, thereby minimizing oxidation formation in the work environment, particularly beneficial for PCB-level soldering processes. This helps improve wetting/spreading, resulting in shinier surfaces with fewer grainy appearances.
Reduced Surface Tension
In a nitrogen environment, the surface tension of solder significantly decreases, allowing solder to spread more effectively and form smooth, uniform joints, thereby enhancing soldering quality.
Improved Fluidity and Wetting
Nitrogen environment enhances the fluidity and wetting characteristics of solder, crucial for lead-free soldering as it promotes more even distribution across soldering surfaces. This effectively reduces solder defects, thereby improving production efficiency and product yield.
Prevention of Nozzle and Solder Surface Oxidation
Nitrogen effectively isolates oxygen, preventing solder oxidation during the soldering process, thus enhancing solder joint reliability and overall soldering quality.
3. Relationship Between Nitrogen Generator and Air Compressor
• Basic Concepts of Nitrogen Generator and Air Compressor
Nitrogen Generator: A nitrogen generator is a device specialized in producing high-purity nitrogen. It separates nitrogen from air using physical or chemical methods for various applications such as industrial and medical uses.
Silent Air Compressor: An air compressor is a device that compresses air to high pressures and is widely used in applications requiring compressed air, including pneumatic tools, gas transport, cooling, and others.
• Working Principles of Nitrogen Generator and Air Compressor
Working Principle of Silent Air Compressor: A silent air compressor operates by using an electric motor to drive mechanical motion within the compressor. It intakes air and compresses it to high pressure, then delivers it through pipelines to equipment or systems requiring compressed air.
Working Principle of Nitrogen Generator: A nitrogen generator typically employs membrane separation or Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology to separate nitrogen from oxygen in air. In membrane separation, specialized membrane materials allow nitrogen and oxygen to be separated based on differences in molecular size or diffusion rates. PSA technology uses adsorbents that selectively adsorb oxygen under pressure, allowing nitrogen to pass through, thereby achieving nitrogen purification.
•Relationship Between Nitrogen Generator and Air Compressor
Air Compressor as Front-end Equipment for Nitrogen Generator: In a nitrogen generator system, the air compressor typically serves as the front-end equipment responsible for providing compressed air. The compressed air, after undergoing necessary treatment, enters the nitrogen generator for the separation of nitrogen.
Gas Supply: The air compressor supplies stable compressed air, ensuring the nitrogen generator operates continuously and efficiently. The quality and stability of compressed air directly influence the operational effectiveness of the nitrogen generator.
Pressure Control: The air compressor must deliver air at appropriate pressures. The nitrogen generator adjusts these pressures as needed to ensure effective separation processes and maintain nitrogen purity.
4. Advantages of the Q-AIR 750D Oil-Free Silent Air Compressor
Adequate Air Volume and Pressure: The Q-AIR 750D can achieve a pressure of up to 8 kgf/cm2 with a flow rate of 775 LPM, ensuring stable and sufficient air volume and pressure to meet the demands of nitrogen generators, guaranteeing a consistent nitrogen supply.
Built-in Dryer Function: The Q-AIR 750D is equipped with a built-in dryer that reduces the dew point of the gas to -5°C, effectively removing moisture from compressed air. This prevents moisture from affecting welding quality by ensuring the nitrogen remains free from water vapor.
Silent Design: The Q-AIR 750D features a chamber-type silent design, operating with minimal noise. This design minimizes disturbance to the work environment, enhancing overall comfort in the workplace.
Conclusion:
By using an air compressor to drive nitrogen for soldering, it effectively enhances the quality of solder joints and production efficiency. The Q-AIR 750D oil-free silent air compressor provides stable air volume and pressure, along with built-in dryer and silent operation features, making it an ideal choice for nitrogen soldering processes. With the increasing application of automated soldering equipment, nitrogen soldering will become a crucial means to improve soldering yield and reduce costs.
5. Who is Suitable for Using Silent Air Compressors?
If you are involved in electronics manufacturing, especially in lead-free soldering, choosing the right air compressor is crucial for enhancing production efficiency and product quality. The following types of customers are particularly suitable for purchasing our silent air compressors:
Electronics Manufacturers: Whether small workshops or large factories dealing with circuit board soldering, a stable nitrogen supply is essential to prevent solder oxidation and improve solder flow. Our air compressors provide stable and durable compressed air to ensure soldering quality.
Users of Automated Soldering Equipment: Automated soldering equipment requires high-quality, stable nitrogen supply to operate effectively. Our Q-AIR 750D oil-free silent air compressor meets this demand and ensures dry, impurity-free nitrogen output through its built-in dryer function.
Enterprises with High Environmental Standards: If your production environment requires low noise levels or demands high air quality, our oil-free silent air compressors are the ideal choice. Their silent operation and oil-free design ensure low noise and high air quality, without disrupting the production environment.
Cost-Conscious Manufacturers: Our air compressors not only improve soldering quality but also help reduce overall production costs by increasing efficiency and reducing labor costs. For enterprises aiming to maintain cost advantages in competitive markets, this equipment is a valuable investment.
Whether you are a small startup or a large-scale manufacturer, our silent air compressors can meet your needs, helping you enhance production efficiency and ensure product quality. Feel free to contact us for more product information and solutions.
