Cleaning Copper ribbon coated with Tin from oxide

[Ganesh Iyer]

Dear all,

I have a copper ribbon of about 4 mils in thickness and is coated with
a layer of tin. Can any one suggest me of easy method or solution of
cleaning the wire from oxides. I mean cleaning the tin oxide.

Thanks,
Ganesh

 

[Pooh Bear]

Dear all,

I have a copper ribbon of about 4 mils in thickness and is coated with
a layer of tin. Can any one suggest me of easy method or solution of
cleaning the wire from oxides. I mean cleaning the tin oxide.

An aggresive flux may do it ( such as plumbers flux ). Clean off any
residue before using for electronic use.

Otherwise it's acids I guess. Tried vinegar ? It might work.

Graham

 

[Ganesh Iyer]

Great,

But I forgot to mention that I need to wrap the ribbon around the
solder wire and do the solder dip. I just checked that plumber flux
might be not a good option if I am going for soldering. Is there any
other way of cleaning? Will try with vinegar though.

Thanks again,
Ganesh.

 

[Luhan Monat]

Dear all,

I have a copper ribbon of about 4 mils in thickness and is coated with
a layer of tin. Can any one suggest me of easy method or solution of
cleaning the wire from oxides. I mean cleaning the tin oxide.

Thanks,
Ganesh

I would try Tarnex. Works great, smells bad.

 

[Rich Grise]

Great,

But I forgot to mention that I need to wrap the ribbon around the
solder wire and do the solder dip. I just checked that plumber flux
might be not a good option if I am going for soldering. Is there any
other way of cleaning? Will try with vinegar though.

What exactly are you trying to accomplish?

The tin oxide is there to protect the assembly from corrosion. (that's why
they use tin - the layer of oxide is hard to just scrape off, and doesn't
react very well with much of anything after it's in place, but will still
let you solder, if you have good flux.)

If all you're trying to do is solder to the piece of tin-plated (with
oxide layer) copper, then let the flux into which you dip the assembly
before dipping into the solder pot do the cleaning when you dip it. That's
what flux is for. You don't need aggressive acid plumbing flux - just
dippable liquid solder pot flux.

You _do_ have to skim the slag so you have a nice bright shiny solder
surface in the pot before you dip the flux-dipped component. An aluminum
scraper works well here - aluminum oxide is practically inert, and so
won't contaminate your solder.

In case I wasn't clear here - you have two pots: one with liquid flux,
that you dip the assembly into to wet it, and the other with the molten
solder.

It will probably be a good idea to physically clean the parts, like
with a wire brush or steel wool, to get the biggest particles off.

Good Luck!
Rich

 

[Ganesh Iyer]

Dear Rich,

I really appriciate your advices and tips. We do dip the wire in the
flux and preheat it before solder dipping. But we have a problem of
void formation after the dip and I believe the main reason being the
oxide formation/ contamination on the surface and hence was curious to
know if there are any method of scrapping of the oxide layer. Also for
the contamination we do clean the surface with IP before hot dip. So
the only chance might be because of oxidation. More advices and tips
are most welcome.

Thanks again,
Ganesh.

 

[Mac]

Dear all,

I have a copper ribbon of about 4 mils in thickness and is coated with
a layer of tin. Can any one suggest me of easy method or solution of
cleaning the wire from oxides. I mean cleaning the tin oxide.

Thanks,
Ganesh

I think ammonia removes most oxides from most metals.

--Mac

 

[Rich Grise]

Dear Rich,

I really appriciate your advices and tips. We do dip the wire in the
flux and preheat it before solder dipping. But we have a problem of
void formation after the dip and I believe the main reason being the
oxide formation/ contamination on the surface and hence was curious to
know if there are any method of scrapping of the oxide layer. Also for
the contamination we do clean the surface with IP before hot dip. So
the only chance might be because of oxidation. More advices and tips
are most welcome.

Thanks again,
Ganesh.

I'm sorry, Ganesh, but I've given you pretty much all I've got, without
being on-site to physically inspect what the cause of the voids is.

At this point, my best guess is little hidden nooks and crannies
where oxide is hiding, or something like that.

Other than that, practice, practice, practice!

Good Luck!
Rich

 

[Ganesh Iyer]

Thanks Rich .. Seems no other way than... the Hard way ..

ganesh..