When there is a desire to build your own electronic device, you need to stock up with a soldering iron, solder and rosin. Of course, do not forget about the details of the circuit itself, but we are now interested in improving the quality of the soldering process. That's what rosin is for? About it, we now talk.
What is rosin?
You probably noticed in shops, aimed at selling components to create their products, a transparent vitreous substance, which is somewhat similar to amber both in its appearance and color. This rosin pine. For the first time this substance was received in the Greek city of Colophon and was originally called "colophonic resin". Got it from gum-resin. It was also obtained from different species of pine, separating it from turpentine and other volatile substances with the help of a steam bath. At the same time, all non-volatile impurities coalesced. The distillation was carried out using a pair, the temperature of which was 200 degrees. Such an indicator does not lead to decomposition of rosin.
Modernity
Now rosin can be obtained from chopped pine wood with the help of special solvents or extracted from tall oil or cellulose. Depending on the method, the following types are distinguished:
- Pine.
- Tallow.
- Extraction.
Modern rosin of 60-90 percent consists of resin abietic acid, 1-12% fatty acids and neutral substances (such as triterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids and diterpenoids). It can not be dissolved by water, but alcohol, ether, benzene, acetone and slightly worse kerosene can do it. At 40 degrees, rosin begins to soften, and at 100 already melts. When the temperature reaches 250 degrees, it boils. If you add to it mineral and organic substances, you get a soap. If you dissolve it in polyhydric alcohol, then you will have rosin ether. As you can see, there are many applications. Of course, it's safer to do anything when you have a pine rosin at your fingertips. The manufacturer must ensure that the products meet all the requirements of state standards (there were no third-party impurities or anything else).
Properties
The best characteristics are rosin pine. GOST 19113-84 ensures that the products of this assignment comply with the quality and safety standards for people that work with it. It begins to soften at 68 degrees of heat. It also almost lacks fatty acids. This rosin is considered a completely natural and environmentally friendly substance. It has an amber-yellow color. Extraction and tall rosin are considered artificial. They also differ in color. But, despite the different ways of obtaining, their properties are considered close to those that have a natural product, which is rosin pine. Very highly appreciated is the enhanced grip that is between surfaces when using this design. Also rosin possesses good washing and penetrating properties (for ethereal and alcoholic solutions). The latter determined its use as a waterproofing agent. It can also be used as glue.
Application in practice
The main sphere of application these days is the provision of assistance during the soldering of metal parts. So, the pine rosin as a soldering flux shows a positive result. Despite the fact that there is a significant amount of more modern chemical developments, it is still used in electronics and radio engineering. Thus, the melted pine rosin can easily remove the oxide layer, which is on the surface of the parts to be soldered. It is also important that it reduces the surface tension of the solder. Due to this, it spreads more evenly over the working plane. The use of such a flux increases the quality of the use of solder. It also exerts a certain protective effect on the various vapors of the environment. Also, acid neutrality affects the preservation of popularity. This is possible due to the use of raw materials of natural origin. Therefore, the place of soldering does not corrode over time and there is no leakage of current. This is especially important during the assembly of electronic circuits. Also, pine, tallow and extraction rosin can be used together with pure ethyl alcohol in a proportion of 4 to 6 to produce a liquid flux. Even those who hold the soldering iron for the first time in their life can take advantage of the rosin. First, you need to warm up the sting and dip it into the frozen substance. Then they take solder, which is applied to the surface to be soldered and the part. If necessary, use a soldering iron tip to distribute it evenly. As a result, a monolithic mass must be obtained, which will unite all that is necessary. There are applications in other areas of human activity. So, rosin is traditionally used to rub the strings of bow instruments, and if you grind it to a powder state, you can get quality smoke effects.
Conclusion
As you can see, rosin is a very effective tool in many areas. And a natural pine substance occupies a confident leader position among all kinds. If you want to know in detail what the pine colophony represents, GOST 19113-84 will help you in this.