Sal Ammoniac (WAS: [Elecraft] Hakko 808 tips)

[Andrey Stoev]

Hi Ron,

The sal ammoniac (ammonium chloride) which was widely used back in the days 
to clean the soldering iron tips is very corrosive agent when heated.
Under hight temperature the ammonium chloride breaks down as NH4CL + heat 
to NH3 (ammonia) and HCL (Hydrocloride, which when solved in water is known 
as Murratic acid).
The HCL does the cleaning of the soldering iron tip and it  is an extremly 
corrosive agent (not to mentioned what will do to your lungs - it turns into 
murratic acid and can cause swelling, inflamation, etc). Just the vapours 
and the particles on the soldering iron tip will cause corrosion to the 
electronics if used during the soldering process.

Its OK to clean the iron every once in awhile but its very BAD idea to use 
it as soldering aid (as flux). On other hand it is used as a component of 
the flux in the plumbing.


73s
KB1FZA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" <rondec at easystreet.com>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, October 07, 2005 10:38 PM
Subject: Sal Ammoniac (WAS: [Elecraft] Hakko 808 tips)


Steve, AA4K wrote:

I'd be very reluctant to use a soldering iron tip cleaned with sal ammoniac
on electronic equipment. For some manufacturers, it will void the warranty.

----------------------

Now that's an interesting thought. What possible harm does a common salt
(NH4)Cl do, especially if it's used as a cleaner that is long gone before
the iron ever approaches an electronic component, not as a soldering aid.

It's been a long time since I fiddled with that strange stuff, but Jerry
reminds me that it is an excellent de-oxidizer. One of its interesting
properties is that it is NEVER a liquid. It is either a solid or a gas,
depending upon the temperature. It's the gas boiling off of the solid
material when heated that provides the cleaning action.

I've never seen an electronics company that worried about irons that had
been cleaned with the stuff, Steve. Please fill us in!

Ron AC7AC