Overview
EN ISO 9455-13:2017 is an international standard developed by ISO and endorsed by CEN that specifies a standardized test method for determining the spattering tendency of soft soldering fluxes. This part 13 of the ISO 9455 series focuses exclusively on liquid fluxes as defined in ISO 9454-1 and provides a qualitative (comparative) evaluation of flux spattering during the soldering process. It excludes flux cored solder wire and solder pastes from its scope. The standard aims to help manufacturers and users assess flux performance to optimize quality and safety in soldering applications.
Key Topics
- Test Scope: Applicable solely to liquid soft soldering fluxes; does not cover flux cored solder wires or solder pastes.
- Test Principle: Measurement of flux spattering is conducted by applying a controlled amount of liquid flux onto a heated specimen plate placed on a solder bath maintained at (400 ± 10) °C. Visual inspection identifies presence or absence of spattering.
- Test Apparatus:
- Solder bath with tin-base solder according to ISO 9453, dimensions approximately 150 mm × 100 mm.
- Specimen plates made of 1 mm thick unalloyed steel sheet (ISO 3574), sized to cover the solder bath rim.
- Silicon carbide abrasive cloth (180 grade) for plate surface preparation.
- Test Procedure:
- Clean specimen plates immediately before the test.
- Precisely apply 0.1 ml of flux to the plate center.
- Place the plate flux-up on the heated solder bath rim for 3 minutes in still air.
- Visually examine for flux spattering.
- Result Interpretation: Results are reported qualitatively as “no spattering” or “spattering occurs.” Performance can also be compared against a reference flux to classify flux behavior as better, equal, or worse.
- Reporting: Test reports include sample identification, method reference, results, any unusual observations, details of deviations or optional procedures, and date.
Applications
This standard provides essential guidance for industries where soft soldering is a critical process, including:
- Electronics Manufacturing: Ensuring soldering fluxes do not spatter reduces contamination risk and improves joint quality.
- Automotive and Aerospace: Reliable flux performance testing supports component safety and consistency in soldered assemblies.
- Metalworking and Fabrication: Optimizing flux characteristics enhances operator safety by minimizing hot flux ejections.
- Quality Control Laboratories: Enables consistent evaluation of liquid flux batches for spattering tendencies, aiding in product development and quality assurance.
- Soldering Material Suppliers: Facilitates the classification and labelling of liquid fluxes with validated spattering performance according to ISO series standards.
Related Standards
EN ISO 9455-13:2017 is part of the broader ISO 9455 series on soft soldering flux test methods and refers to:
- ISO 9454-1: Classification and requirements for soft soldering fluxes, including labelling and packaging.
- ISO 9453: Chemical composition and forms of soft solder alloys used in conjunction with fluxes.
- ISO 3574: Specification for cold-reduced carbon steel sheets, which are used as specimen materials in this test.
For harmonized soldering quality, EN ISO 9455-13 should be applied along with these related standards to ensure compliant flux selection, performance assessment, and safe soldering processes.
Keywords: EN ISO 9455-13:2017, soft soldering fluxes, flux spattering test, solder bath test method, liquid flux testing, soldering quality control, ISO 9454-1, flux performance evaluation.
