Introduction to soldering/welding technology

The perfect soldering equipment in just a few steps with the Soldering Navigator, the "ROTHENBERGER Industrial Soldering Primer"

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The soldering primer

Professional soldering work guarantees optimal, durable connections. Soldering has been a tried and tested joining technique for many centuries!

The soldering processes are divided into "soft soldering" and "hard soldering". They differ in the respective working temperature, which is higher for hard soldering. With the help of the soldering processes mentioned, identical or different metallic materials are firmly joined together by heating, using a soldering device and feeding in a non-ferrous metal alloy, the solder and a special flux.

The appropriately prepared material surfaces of the base materials are wetted by the molten solder and joined on the surface. The melting point of the solder is always below the melting point of the base material(s). Workpieces joined by soldering can always be separated again, by applying heat until the solder melts. In this way, they can easily regain their original shape.

Brazing processes are generally characterised by easy handling, short working times and relatively low working temperatures, which result in little or no change in the material quality of the workpieces. During welding (oxyfuel / arc / inert gas welding), the metallic base material is melted at the joint by heating and forms a structural connection with the molten filler material (welding rod, rod electrode, wire electrode).

This work belongs in the hands of specialists!

Keep your hands away from soldering or welding containers (tanks) due to the high risk of explosion or deflagration! Do not get into containers - great danger of suffocation or poisoning!

How to find your way around:

Our customer guidance system for your orientation

The customer guidance system from ROTHENBERGER Industrial combines packaging, catalogue, soldering guide and soldering navigator. These are precisely tailored to your needs and actively support you with your purchase. The clear colour coding of our gas appliances and solders makes it easy for you to put together your own optimum work equipment.

**You can recognise the individual processes by the colours and pictograms below.

Selection of common materials that can be soldered:

Kupfer – Copper

Stahl – Steel

Aluminium – Aluminium

Kupfer (Copper) – Rotguss (Gunmetal)

Kupfer (Copper) – Messing (Brass)

Stahlguss – Cast Steel

Kupfer (Copper) – Stahl (Steel)

Safety instructions for occupational safety▪ Safety goggles or welding shield with transparent or light protection lenses, depending on the work technology | ▪ Protective gloves | ▪ Fireproof work mat | ▪ Clean protective work clothing; sturdy footwear | Protective welding apron ▪ Clear the area around the workplace of flammable materials | ▪ Good ventilation of the workplace | ▪ Read and observe the manufacturer's safety instructions before starting soldering or welding work | ▪ Provide appropriate fire extinguishing agents - wet or powder fire extinguishers, water, etc., depending on the scope of work. |▪ After completion of the soldering or welding work, check the workplace appropriately to prevent smouldering fires|▪ Keep your hands away from soldering or welding tanks and containers - risk of deflagration or explosion! Caution, danger of suffocation due to lack of oxygen or poisoning due to gas formation when entering containers!

Possible causes of faulty work results▪ Incorrect solder and/or flux ▪ Insufficient heat supply: solder flows and does not wet (droplet formation) | ▪ Heat supply too high: solder and/or flux burns or vaporises | ▪ Soldering gap too large: no capillary effect - solder cannot close the soldering gap | ▪ Pipe ends and fittings have not been made metallically bright: oxide layer on the surface of the workpiece ▪ Damaged electronic components after soldering: Use temperature-controlled soldering equipment (use electronic soldering station).

SOLDERING NAVIGATOR

The perfect soldering equipment in just 3 steps

1. step: choose the right application or connection 2. step: pick the ideal process for your requirements 3. step: select fasteners, flux and equipment

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The basics of soldering technology

The "working temperature" is the lowest surface temperature on the base materials to be joined at which the solder is melted, wets and bonds the soldering surfaces.

The "soldering temperature" is minimally determined by the working temperature and is limited upwards by the flux or the "melting temperature" of the solder.

The "flux" has the task of removing adhering oxide components from the metal surface before and during the soldering process. The composition of the flux is specially adapted to the base workpieces and the solder. Fluxes are "soldering grease", "soldering water" and "soldering powder" in various chemical compositions.

The ‘solder’ has the task of joining two identical or different workpieces together. The composition/alloy of the solder must be specially matched to the base workpieces. Depending on the intended use, the solders are called ‘soft solder’ or ‘hard solder’. Soft solders have a low melting temperature (below 450 °C) and are often used for electrical connections or plumbing work. Brazing alloys, on the other hand, have a higher melting temperature (above 450 °C) and are used in areas such as sanitary, heating and refrigeration technology as well as in mechanical engineering.

Flux pastes are fluxes to which additional solder components are added specifically for their intended use. When using these ready-to-use flux pastes, the soldering surfaces are coated with a thin layer of flux and are completely wetted with solder once the working temperature has been reached.

Flux-filled solders are soft or hard solders that are already filled with the appropriate flux. These solders do not require the use of an additional flux.

Flux-coated solders are brazing alloys in which the solder rod is coated with an appropriate flux. These solders do not require the use of an additional flux.

The soldering equipment serves as the corresponding heat source; soldering equipment with an open flame (cartridge soldering equipment and hose soldering equipment etc.) and without a flame (resistance soldering equipment, electric soldering irons or soldering guns etc.) are used.