AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE COMPOSITION OF SOLDER FUME

An investigation has been carried out into the chemical composition of fume produced from rosin core solder wire subjected to the heat of so ldering. Solders containing flux based on two rosin types, Portuguese Rosin 'Y' and American Rosin 'WW', were included and the chemical comp ositions of the aldehydic, volatile and particulate fractions of the f ume have been determined. Aldehydes were found to be predominantly for maldehyde and acetaldehyde with the ratio between the two depending on solder type and soldering temperature. The volatile terpene compositi on of the fume varied considerably depending on the rosin and activato r present in the solder flux. Resin acids make up the major part of th e particulate fraction of the fume. The seven principal resin acid com ponents were identified.