Novel IeMRC funded Solder Flux Project Starts

Article Type: Industry news From: Soldering & Surface Mount Technology, Volume 25, Issue 3

A project looking at the development of a new solder flux for electronics using a special type of ionic liquid called “deep eutectic solvents” (DES)has started at the University of Leicester by Professor Karl Ryder, Dr Andrew Ballantyne and Christopher Zaleski (Figure 1).

Figure 1

The IeMRC funded project aims to cause a technology change in the solder flux industry by replacing the harmful, expensive Rosin based systems used currently with those of a cheap, sustainable and environmentally friendly DES based flux. In addition, current systems are dependent on the metal used with different fluxes often required for different metals. These liquids can potentially be used as a universal solder flux for a variety of different metals.

A kick of meeting was held at the University of the 14 of February where presentations were given by Professor Ryder detailing the background to the project and Dr Ballantyne discussing the structure of the research to be carried out. Additional partners in the research are the International Tin Research Institute (ITRI) and Merlin printed circuit boards (Merlin PCB) to fully characterise the nature of the solder bonds and provide a critical assessment compared to those of conventional methods.

The project has a wide impact potential and is supported by the Institute of Circuit Technology (ICT), the SMART Group, the National Physics Laboratory(NPL), the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), the European Institute of Printed Circuits (EIPC) and the iMAPS group.