Passive Flux - the Roll of Nano-Ceramic Technology to Enhance the Flow and Bond Characterists of Metals

In several industries, the use of flux plays a key role in manufacturing by promoting solder flow, joint strength, and influencing finished product appearance. Traditional fluxes rely on chlorinated or fluorinated compounds to facilitate metal-metal bonding and flow by chemically cleaning the metals to be joined. In high-temperature metal joining processes, the primary purpose of a flux is to maintain high joint strength through the reduction and near-term prevention of oxides of the base and filler materials. Secondarily, flux facilitates the amalgamation of dissimilar alloys thereby acting as a wetting agent in soldering and brazing processes. Not unique to manufactures in the European Union and the United States, there is increasing pressure to reduce and/or eliminate chlorinated and fluorinated compounds in the workplace to improve jeweler safety and meet zero-impact environmental protocols. Recent advances in ceramic technology have given rebirth to an entire new class of passive fluxes that exploit key physical metallurgical properties at each stage of the solder/braze weld temperature cycle without the health risks associated with active halide chemistry and provide sufficient solder flow, joint strength, and impressive finished product appearance.