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Specialty Chemistry Forums => Citizen Chemist => Topic started by: maxvortex on June 16, 2013, 02:51:47 PM

Title: Soldering - melted lead
Post by: maxvortex on June 16, 2013, 02:51:47 PM
Testing electrodes :
Aluminium and copper mesh

OK. the idea is to put any of those two mesh parts into melted lead so the lead can "hook" up to this mesh. Basically, the idea is to cover this mesh with lead.

I smeared aluminum with solder paste and try to put this mesh into melted lead.
Nothing happened, the lead didn't cover any part of al mesh.
I will try the same with copper but i dont know if this will work.

Question:
Would it be enough to use pure lead to make something like this or do this lead has to have tin inside ?

Max
Title: Re: Soldering - melted lead
Post by: billnotgatez on June 16, 2013, 11:57:00 PM
You are using Lead (Pb) rather than solder which is an alloy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solder
Title: Re: Soldering - melted lead
Post by: maxvortex on June 17, 2013, 02:28:44 AM
You are using Lead (Pb) rather than solder which is an alloy
- the reason for this is because i have a lot of lead left ( from old car battery's ) so i was thinking to "reuse" this.

I dont know how much tin should be enough to make some alloy that can be used for soldering purposes. I found that lowest amount could be 10% ?. Pb90Sn10.

If so, how to mix tin with lead to get this alloy ?
Title: Re: Soldering - melted lead
Post by: curiouscat on June 17, 2013, 07:00:28 AM

If so, how to mix tin with lead to get this alloy ?

Melt and stir, I suppose.
Title: Re: Soldering - melted lead
Post by: vmelkon on June 22, 2013, 06:21:26 PM
You are using Lead (Pb) rather than solder which is an alloy
- the reason for this is because i have a lot of lead left ( from old car battery's ) so i was thinking to "reuse" this.

I dont know how much tin should be enough to make some alloy that can be used for soldering purposes. I found that lowest amount could be 10% ?. Pb90Sn10.

If so, how to mix tin with lead to get this alloy ?

With aluminum, I think the problem might be the oxide layer. It is very thought. You need an inert atmosphere and then sandpaper it or dip the aluminum in molten lead and scratch the aluminum. I say this because the same applies to aluminum and mercury alloys. You need to add the mercury and then scratch.

With copper, clean the surface with sandpaper and dip into the molten lead.

If you want to make Pb90Sn10, weight 90 g of Pb and 10 g of Sn.