Which is better Rosin Core Solder(RA Type) Vs No Clean Solder(NC Type)

These days Circuit Board assembly Industry are compelled and introspecting the use of No-Clean Solder Wires for Soldering Purposes in their operations.

Be it full PCB soldering to soldering small joints, NC solder is the new accepted way to solder in India.

       

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Its interesting to know which is better!

 Rosin Core general solder or Resin Cored No-Clean Solder?

Let’s begin with nuances of No-Clean Type Solder Wires.

No Clean Solder simply implies that it does not required to clean PCB with any solvent i.e I.P.A / Petrol (Never Clean with this) after soldering. But this generally not the case. You may clean the No clean flux traces, its a good practice and make your PCB look clean and premier.

Cleaning often involves the use of petroleum solvents (PCB Cleaning Solvents)- for example by vapor de-greasing or just scrubbing.

It may require as per technical reasons to clean NC flux residues to be cleaned with solvent though NC solder properties says:

NC Flux are non-corrosive, non-conductive and not visible (PCB looks cosmetically clean). Thus, it does not affect electronic component performance in any manner if left uncleaned.

No clean fluxes allegedly don't need to be cleaned and can be left on the board, however many of have had problems with no-clean processes having relatively conductive residue.

The residue is ironically extremely hard to remove, much more difficult than the two above-mentioned processes, more like 'can't clean'.

Think twice about this kind of flux if you're thinking of sensitive analog boards that have high impedance. Even circuits you may not think of as being analog such as RTCC chips with an external crystal may be affected.

Safest for sensitive boards is rosin flux followed by a thorough cleaning process.

No clean flux often has enough "low" resistance that it might influence sensitive circuits, so in case you can withstand with a few hundreds of megohms resistance between anything, leave it on. If that is too low, clean it up.

No-Clean Flux isn't so bad but you need to consider over below points too:

1. NC Flux core wires are not comparable to RA type in terms of Soldering flow. 

RA (Rosin Activated) Type wires are high flow and more efficient in terms of soldering per piece of PCB.

2. NC Flux core wire are little expensive then RA type wires.

NC Flux contain special form of Rosin which is light, non-corrosive and have different chemical properties. It is generally called synthetic Rosin.

3. NC Flux type wires are generally used for touching purpose after Dip Soldering process where some joints are left un-soldered during the process because it is non-conductive it does not interrupt with components.

Why you should buy No Clean Wire then?

Our extensive research has enabled us to develop high flow No Clean Core flux Wire that melts and flow like RA type solder wire. You may not need to clean the surface and will not find any difference in soldering compared to general solder wires.

We have achieved a niche in solder flux technology with our extensive research to develop high flow non-corrosive, non-conductive, low smoke, fungus resistant flux cored wires in Rosin Core, No-Clean Core, Urea Core, RMA type flux wires.

Rosin Core Flux Solder Wires

Rosin Activated Solder wires are generally called General Purpose solder wire predominating electronic Industry since several decades where they have only become more efficient in terms of flow, non-corrosiveness, little less conductive with subtle smoke and light smell.

1. It can be left on board without cleaning in many cases but depending on technical standards and cosmetic reasons it is required to clean the board with solvent. It needs to be thoroughly cleaned where technicalities play a major role.

2. RA type wires are characterized by high soldering flow and efficiency.

3. It is commonly accepted and used in the market from several decades where NC flux core started gaining reach and acceptance by recent decade.

Our advanced flux technology enables user to achieve high efficient solder-ability and effective per psc production.

Thus, it is no-nonsense debate but conclusion is that it just depend on technical requirements and cost efficacy of the user to choose either of the flux type wires.