Is the soldering iron solder toxic?
The material used for soldering with an electric soldering iron is solder wire, which, although mainly composed of tin, also contains other metals. It is mainly divided into lead and lead-free (i.e. environmentally friendly) types. With the introduction of the EU ROHS standard, more and more PCB soldering factories are choosing lead-free and environmentally friendly ones. Lead solder wires are also gradually being replaced, and non environmentally friendly ones cannot be exported. Lead free solder paste, lead free solder wire, and lead free solder strip are currently the main products on the market.
Simply put, harmful soldering materials are generally toxic due to their low melting point, containing about 60% lead and 40% tin. Most of the solder on the market is hollow and contains rosin, so the gas you are referring to is probably evaporated when the rosin inside the solder melts during soldering. The gas emitted by the volatilization of rosin is also slightly toxic, and this gas is quite unpleasant. The main hazard factor of soldering is lead smoke, even lead-free soldering contains a certain amount of lead. Lead smoke has a very low limit in GBZ2-2002 and is highly toxic, requiring special protection. Due to the damage caused by the welding process to human health and the environment, in Europe, the protection of welding workers and the environment has been enforced through legislation, and welding without proper protective measures is not allowed. There are clear provisions in the ISO14000 standard for the treatment and protection of pollution generated in the production process.
Tin contains lead, and in the past, soldering was classified as an occupational hazard position due to the presence of lead in the solder wire (listed in the national occupational disease catalog); Nowadays, most of our enterprises use lead-free solder wire, which is mainly composed of tin. The disease prevention and control center tested tin dioxide; Not included in the national occupational disease catalog. Lead free technology generally does not exceed the standard for lead fumes, but there are other hazards associated with soldering, such as the use of soldering flux (rosin like substances), which can be considered on a case by case basis. Employees can usually check what identification the tin distributed is and which type it belongs to, so that they can have evidence and request the company to rectify it (they can provide suggestions to the factory's internal union). If the tin used is lead containing, it is definitely harmful to the body. Over time, they accumulate in the body and cause significant immune damage to the nervous system.
Lead free solder wire is environmentally friendly, but it is also harmful to the human body. The low lead content of lead-free solder wire does not mean that it does not contain lead. Compared with lead containing solder wire, lead-free solder wire has less pollution to the environment and human body than lead containing solder wire. The gases generated during soldering are toxic, including gas vapors such as rosin oil and zinc chloride.
