Can an electric soldering iron be heated in an environment without oxygen
An electric soldering iron is heated by the heating phenomenon when an electric current passes through an alloy resistance wire. Electric soldering irons can generally be divided into two types: internally heated and externally heated.
The external heating type places the soldering iron head at the center of the heating element, and is called the external heating type because the heat source comes from the outside of the soldering iron head. The internal heating type makes the soldering iron head into a hollow shape, and the heating element is placed inside the cavity, so the volume is relatively small.
The oxygen mentioned by the questioner, although not playing any role in the heating process of the soldering iron, still makes a significant contribution in interfering with welding and shortening the lifespan of the soldering iron.
Electric heating wires that are in a high-temperature state may experience oxidation in an aerobic environment. Over time, the oxide layer falls off, causing the electric heating wire to become thinner and damaged, shortening the service life of the soldering iron. In addition, oxygen can also cause an oxide layer to appear on the surface of the molten tin and the soldered metal, blocking the welding process. For this reason, soldering work cannot be separated from soldering flux, whose function is to prevent oxidation.
When using an electric soldering iron in practice, attention should be paid to the following points: ① Choose an appropriate wattage of soldering iron, do not overheat the soldering iron, otherwise it will not only waste electrical energy but also accelerate the oxidation process and affect welding; ② Learn to observe and judge the temperature and fluidity of solder. When the soldering temperature is suitable, the surface will appear bright silver white and have good fluidity. If the surface turns blue quickly, it indicates that the temperature is too high, and it is necessary to reduce the wattage or switch to a constant temperature soldering iron Prevent severe vibration. Because the high-temperature resistant materials used to make soldering iron cores are made of ceramics or mica, they are easily broken and should be handled with care when in use It is strictly prohibited to use acidic soldering flux when welding electronic components to prevent corrosion and leakage. The best flux is rosin. But when welding steel components, if there is difficulty in soldering, acidic soldering flux can be used first to do the soldering work well, then carefully clean it, and finally use rosin soldering to completely weld.
