Eltville, 18.04.2016
"Our customers have repeatedly approached us with the request to develop a standardized flux for a wide range of applications," explains Markus Geßner, authorized signatory of Emil Otto GmbH. Small and medium-sized companies in particular expressed this wish, as they wanted to use a standardized flux for as many soldering processes as possible. Emil Otto therefore presented the fluxes EO-B-001, EO-B-002 and EO-B-003 from the new Multi-Flux series to the public at productronica 2015. Four more products will be added to this series at SMT.
In addition to the wave and selective soldering process, many companies also use hand and dip soldering. For each of these applications, Emil Otto GmbH has specific fluxes in its range with properties tailored to the application. However, if the wave soldering system in the company only runs on certain days of the month, but manual soldering is carried out daily with different tasks, cables are assembled without there being time for technical adjustments, a flux is required that has good soldering and application properties for each individual application. They can therefore be used for all common soldering processes.
All fluxes in the Multiflux range comply with DIN EN 61 190-1-1 with L0 classification in terms of corrosion behavior, freedom from halogens and surface resistance of uncleaned flux residues. In addition, they have been tested for SIR behavior according to an "Emil Otto in-house test" based on the above-mentioned standard and recommendations from the Fraunhofer Institute in Oberpfaffenhofen. All products in the Multi-Flux series have passed the tests and are therefore approved for customer use. This means that the safety and behavior of the flux residues after the soldering process have been tested. The passed tests give the customer more process reliability regarding residue behavior.
The following products are part of the Multi-Flux series:
| Flux designation | Classification according to DIN EN 61 190 1 1 | ISO 9454 | Solids content |
| EO-B-001 | ORL0 | 2.1.3.A | 3,0% |
| EO-B-002 | ORL0 | 2.2.3.A | 3,0% |
| EO-B-003 | ORL0 | 2.2.3.A | 3,5 % |
| EO-B-004 | REL0 | 1.2.3.A | 1,8% |
| EO-B-005 | REL0 | 1.2.3.A | 1,8% |
| EO-Y-001 | ORL0 | 2.1.3.A | 2,7% |
| EO-Y-002 | ORL0 | 2.1.3.A | 1,8 % |
The EO-B fluxes are alcohol-based. EO-B-001 has very good process properties for hand soldering, but can also be used in other soldering processes. With EO-B-002 and EO-B-003, on the other hand, the process focus is on wave and selective soldering, although the fluxes can also be used for hand soldering and cable assembly. EO-B-004 has very good process properties in all soldering processes. Its low solids content ensures low flux residues and a very clean appearance.
In contrast to EO-B fluxes, EO-Y fluxes are not based purely on alcohol, but on an alcohol/water mixture. The advantages of both solvents are combined in one product group.
Emil Otto is on hand to advise customers on the choice of flux. Together, the most favorable flux for the application is determined from the available multifluxes by examining the specific customer requirements. A wide range of customer requirements can be covered.
Economic conditions also often play a decisive role here. "The use of different fluxes can lead to considerable additional costs, as often only small quantities are required for the respective process. In addition, the storage of different fluxes becomes more complex and is a source of errors, as fluxes can be mixed up," says Geßner, describing the advantages of the multi-flux series. With the new multi-fluxes, Emil Otto has responded to the wishes and concerns of its customers.