Alloys and Their Uses
Solder
There are 2 norms for solder alloys - these are Sn63/Pb37 and SAC305. These 2 alloys are the bult of the usage, but there are a number of other importance alloys
| ALLOY | MELTING RANGE °F/°C | What is it used for |
| Sn63Pb37 | 361/183 | Most popular alloy, being replaced by lead free, but still more than 50% of the usage |
| Sn60Pb40 | 361-374/183-190 | Military use, can be found in old specs and some dipping operations |
| Sn55Pb45 | 361-397/183-203 | |
| Sn50Pb50 | 361-420/183-214 | |
| Sn45Pb55 | 361-440/183-225 | |
| Sn40Pb60 | 361-460/183-238 | |
| Sn35Pb65 | 361-477/183-247 | |
| Sn30Pb70 | 361-496/183-258 | |
| Sn25Pb75 | 361-514/183-268 | |
| Sn20Pb80 | 361-536/268-302 | |
| Sn10Pb90 | 514-576/268-302 | Used is component assemblies |
| Sn05Pb95 | 574-597/301-314 | Used is component assemblies |
| LEAD-FREE | MELTING RANGE °F/°C | What is it used for |
| Sn96.5Ag3.5 | 430/221 | Eutectic alloy, for hi reliability applications |
| Sn96Ag04 | 430-444/221-229 | |
| Sn95Ag05 | 430-473/221-245 | Used is component assemblies |
| 100%Sn | 450/232 | Tinning leads and rebalancing solder pots |
| Sn95Sb05 | 450-464/232-240 | |
| Sn99.3Cu0.7 | 440/227 | Eutectic alloy, for hi reliability applications |
| Sn96.6Ag3.0Cu0.5 SAC305) | 422-428/217-220 | Most popular lead free alloy, replacing Sn63/Pb37 about 30% of the PCB assembly market |
| 95.4Sn3.8Ag0.8Cu (SAC405) | 422-430/217-221 | There is a debate about which is better - SAC305 or SAC405. SAC405 has more silver and is more expensive. SAC305 is the bulk of the market. There is some feeling that SAC405 is better, but this is not universally accepted |
| BISMOUTH ALLOYS | MELTING RANGE °F/°C | What is it used for |
| Sn 42 / Bi 58 | 144-163oC | Used for toys, and to solder boards with sensitive plastic components, also good choice for step soldering with SAC305 |
| OTHER ALLOYS | MELTING RANGE °F/°C | What is it used for |
| Sn62Pb36Ag02 | 354-372/179-189 | Used is ceramic hybrid applications where Silver based conductors leach into the Sn63Pb37 alloy - the 2% silver addition dramatically slows the leaching, lowers the temp and has shinny joints (good substitute for Sn63/Pb37 but slightly more cost) |
| Sn60Pb36Ag04 | 354-475/179-246 | |
| Sn10Pb88Ag02 | 514-570/268-299 | Common High temp alloy, used in component manufacturing, step soldering with Sn63/Pb37 |
| Sn05Pb93.5Ag1.5 | 565-574/296-301 | |
| Sn05Pb92.5Ag2.5 | 536/280 | |
| Sn43Pb43Bi14 | 291-325/144-163 |