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How to solder Nickel without using flux

I have tried to prewet Nickel surface with many kinds of solder including Pb-Sn, Ag-Sn, Indium, Indium...none of them wet the Nickel very well without flux. Anybody knows what kind of solder will be a good choice for soldering Nickel.

Thanks a lot!

Jane He
RNT - Hunt Valley, Maryland
2005

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I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I don't think you are going to have any success soldering nickel surfaces without flux. Nickel forms an oxide coating in air all by itself fairly rapidly, and unless you remove the oxide, the surface ain't gonna wet.

James Totter, CEF
- Tallahassee, Florida
2005

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2005

Thank you for the reply.

So, if I clean the oxidation right before the joining, you think it will work?

Do you have any suggestions on the nickel oxidation cleaning?

Thanks again!

Jane He
- Hunt Valley, Maryland

Do not use a bright nickel or one that contains organics. this makes the surface even more resistant to post treatments. I would suggets a simple, basic, dull Watts nickel follwoed by wahtever is suggested for getting solder to stick to nickel without flux.

Trevor Crichton
- UK
2005

It is possible to solder to Ni without liquid or powder flux. Our company routinely solders to Ni using a belt furnace with a forming gas cover. The forming gas acts as a flux (i.e. cleaner) for the parts while they are being heated to the solder liquidus. When finished, the parts come out cleaner than when they went in.

Jim Petri
- Melbourne, Florida, USA
2005