Working with electrical circuits? Soldering is one of the most basic techniques to understand for PCB assembly. The soldering process involves joining two electrical components together on the surface of a printed circuit board. Serving as a connective and conductive glue, a solid solder brings continuity and functionality to any circuit board.
How can you choose the right type of solder for your project’s needs? Never fear—we’ve compiled a general guide on the five types of printed circuit board soldering. Here’s what to keep in mind about the diverse kinds of solder on the market today.
Soft Soldering: Ideal for Delicate Components
Soft soldering is a process that carries out exactly as its name implies: gently. Designers with smaller or more intricate circuit board components can benefit from this popular type of soldering. PCB parts utilized with soft soldering often have lower liquefying temperatures. The chosen soft soldering liquid must stay below 400 degrees Celsius to avoid breaking these more fragile or compact components.
Hard Silver Soldering: Stronger Metallic Joints
Hard soldering utilizes a solid solder to create a stronger bond between metal elements on a board. Assemblers choose this soldering to establish durable joints between silver, gold, copper, or brass components. One sub-type of this process is known as silver soldering. This bonding technique uses a silver alloy as space-filling material to firmly attach components together.
Braze Soldering: Higher Heat for Holding
The other alternative sub-type of hard soldering is known as brazing. Compared to soft or silver hard soldering, braze soldering uses the highest temperatures to combine metal pieces. What’s unique about brazing is the yield result—melted base metals that fit filler metal designs. The atomic magnetism and diffusion between the two metals form a heavy-duty bond after cooling.
Wave Soldering: Good for Through-Hole Components
Another of the five types of printed circuit board soldering to know about is wave soldering.Assemblers use wave soldering for both through-hole and surface mount technology PCBs.This large-scale soldering process is best for bulk assemblies to ensure a high-quality product. Using a molten wave soldering machine to attach components is far more effective than manual soldering.
Reflow Soldering: Best for SMT Components
The reflow soldering process is a smart choice for attaching surface mount components to a board. A heated soldering paste allows parts to be firmly jointed to contact pads. Heating the entire assembly in a reflow oven achieves optimal electrical interconnection.
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