Mystery solder x-ray analysis
Added 2025-01-22 18:04:10 +0000 UTCInitial indications of an X-ray fluorescence analysis of the mystery solder are that it is mostly lead (about 94.5%) with 5% tin and possibly 0.3% percent of cadmium.
Comments
95% Pb? That's super cheap solder, all right. The stuff plumbers traditionally used is 50%.
Paul Ste. Marie
2025-01-26 05:12:18 +0000 UTCAll good here so far. When we chose this place we specifically selected a location for low wind exposure. Kevin will probably be out putting powerlines back up though.
Big Clive
2025-01-24 15:47:40 +0000 UTCJust seen the storms in IOM - hope Clive is OK.
Jonathan H
2025-01-24 13:23:32 +0000 UTCJust a text post.
Big Clive
2025-01-23 13:39:38 +0000 UTCThat was the correct thing to do - for their safety.
Big Clive
2025-01-23 13:39:21 +0000 UTCHoly crap. I've seen 40/60 (as in 40% tin and 60% lead, rather the other way round which is typical) and it was terrible to work with. Can't imagine soldering with almost pure lead.
Keri Szafir
2025-01-23 09:01:10 +0000 UTCNot just the metals in these suspicious solders but what the flux? As have seen some dangerous fluxes for certain jobs!
N. Shaun Tremayne
2025-01-23 08:49:20 +0000 UTCNo post? Nothing to see?
Dave Frederick AKA @amorphuc
2025-01-23 08:41:54 +0000 UTCCertain things like solder I only use from trusted sources. I was lucky as still have plenty as I was teaching at a large college at the time they decided to ban leaded solders. So it went home in my bag so not to pollute the students 😁!
N. Shaun Tremayne
2025-01-23 08:38:59 +0000 UTCMmmm Cadmium...
Jrandom Bob
2025-01-23 01:20:38 +0000 UTCIt flowed at my standard 350C iron temperature.
Big Clive
2025-01-22 22:20:15 +0000 UTCNo wonder it behaves so strange. Just look at a phase diagram of lead-tin alloys, e.g., https://fctsolder.com/eutectic-solder/ or https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337367336_Die-attach_for_high-temperature_electronics/figures?lo=1 (similar composition to the "high temperture solder" in this thesis).
Kai-Steffen Hielscher
2025-01-22 21:51:18 +0000 UTC5 degrees above ambient? ;)
Mike Schwab
2025-01-22 21:02:19 +0000 UTCThe X-ray fluorescence machines are fairly good only thing they miss is light elements like aluminum. I used to use an old one at work.
Tazz1669
2025-01-22 20:48:53 +0000 UTCSo essential old car batteries melted with some tin scrap from burnt PCBs, the cadmium is probably from old capacitors.
Nils Hammar
2025-01-22 20:46:03 +0000 UTCOf the juicy lead solders that might be the juiciest.
CasualKitty
2025-01-22 20:13:38 +0000 UTCthat is 80 - 85% lead, this looks much higher lead content.
Chris Hill
2025-01-22 19:18:21 +0000 UTCWow, cadmium is concerning. Even a small amount is very toxic. Such a high proportion of lead seems odd
Chris Hill
2025-01-22 19:16:25 +0000 UTCCould it be this stuff? http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/3625646.pdf
Keith W
2025-01-22 19:12:14 +0000 UTCAnd don't eat it, because without a warning there are people who would.
RonNona
2025-01-22 18:41:33 +0000 UTCOoooh Don't want to be breathing those fumes.
Mike Hughes
2025-01-22 18:25:24 +0000 UTCWhat's the melt temperature?
Tony Webb
2025-01-22 18:06:36 +0000 UTC
