Fluxes play an equally important role in cable assembly as they do in the rest of electronics manufacturing, because customized cables and cable harnesses must work flawlessly to ensure high reliability.
Without cables as components, electronics simply would not function. In the automotive industry, assembled cables are used for vehicle cable harnesses, high-voltage connections in electric vehicles, and data lines in control units. In industrial electronics and #automation, customized cables are essential for machine controls, sensor systems, and industrial networks. Special cables are also used in medical technology, for example in diagnostic devices, patient monitors, and other applications. The #aerospace industry requires particularly lightweight and temperature-resistant cables, while in telecommunications and network technology, coaxial and copper cables ensure fast and stable data transmission. They also play a crucial role in renewable energies and are used in #railway technology for signaling, control, and power transmission systems. In #defense and security technology, they are required for military communications, radar, and surveillance systems, for example.
Therefore, fluxes also play an important role in cable assembly. They prevent the formation of oxides on metal surfaces, remove existing oxide layers and thus improve wetting with solder. They also reduce surface tension, allowing the solder to flow better and creating reliable connections. Thanks to their cleaning effect, flux agents remove dirt such as grease or dust, thereby contributing to improved soldering quality.
Wide range of fluxes especially for cable assembly
The flux portfolio from Emil Otto includes a wide range of products that can be used for reliable soldering in cable assembly, depending on the specific requirements of the soldering process and the subsequent operating conditions of the cable connections. As a developer and manufacturer of fluxes, we also offer a wide range of fluxes for cable assembly and strip tinning. The aim when using a flux is to achieve consistent, high-quality tinning using leaded or lead-free solders. The tinning process must be controllable so that only a defined length of the strip is tinned.
The flux residues that may be remaining may not have any effect on the subsequent use of the end product, for example through corrosion or low surface electrical resistance (SIR). It is also important that the flux used does not penetrate the cable and strip insulation, since this could cause the strips and wires to corrode. In this case, the cable insulation may be damaged.
The fluxes must meet the temperature requirements of the respective process. If the solder bath is operated at higher temperatures, the flux must remain active. This is particularly important if the strip coatings are “burned off” during the soldering process.