What is tinned copper? To begin with, this metal is currently widely used in various industries. Among the distinguishing features of the wire, which explain the demand for it, it can be noted its resistance to external influences: precipitation, temperature extremes.
Also, copper wire compares favorably with other metals with high thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity.
Distinctive parameters
Tinned copper has high ductility, excellent for machining. This material is used in electrical engineering for the manufacture of conductive conductors of copper cables, braids for military and civilian products.
Let’s try to find out what distinguishes tinned and tinned copper. The first option is more protected from external influences, since the wire is covered with a layer of tin. This metal protects the metal thread from any manifestation of corrosion, giving the material increased tensile strength. Tinned copper does not break at excesses.
Getting
Tinning is performed in a galvanic manner. It makes it possible to apply a thin, even coating of tin to copper (1 to 20 microns). The thickness of the layer throughout the wire is the same, so there is no "double diameter" of the wire.
Tinned copper is currently available in two varieties:
- tinned copper soft wire (MML);
- solid tinned copper wire (MTL)
Specifications
The main distinguishing feature between them is the ability to bend. The diameter of tinned copper with aluminum can vary significantly. The most widespread is the wire, in which the diameter is in the range of 0.02-9.42 mm.
To make it, use ordinary copper wire on a coil, subjecting it to galvanic tinning. The material is passed through a tin bath where molten tin is located. So that it does not enter into oxidation with atmospheric oxygen, the surface of the bath is covered with substances that are not able to pass air. In particular, such a substance may be charcoal.
Stages
In order to understand what tinned copper means, let us consider in more detail the main stages of the ongoing process. First, the copper wire, which is installed on a special feeder, is cleaned. The essence of the process is passing through special cleaning brushes moistened with a solution of zinc chloride (this salt is obtained by the interaction of granular zinc with hydrochloric acid).
Next, the wire is lowered into the tin bath, where the tin is located in the molten form, the result is tinned copper. A photo of the finished product demonstrates the uniformity of the applied layer.
It is important at this stage to prevent the appearance of “sagging” on the wire, as they lead to culling of the party due to deviations from the stated diameter.
At the next stage of creating tinned wire, the material is passed through rubber brushes (their diameter should not exceed 0.14 mm) or through a drawing mechanism with diamond disks. A similar procedure is required to give the surface of the wire flawless uniformity.
Then the material is cooled by passing through a container of cold water. The cooled wire re-passes through the drawing mechanism with diamond disks, getting rid of the remaining "influx".
The final point is the wire feed to the receiving mechanism. Here it is fixed on a special coil. After going through the whole chain, the wire is absolutely ready for sale or for the subsequent creation of a cable of different sections. Before tinned wire goes to consumers, it has to go through a control procedure. Its essence is to conduct several operations that will prove compliance with its TU 16-505.850-75.
Features of the tin of a soldering iron
The essence of tinning is to cover the copper part with a thin layer of tin, which protects the product from corrosive processes. The soldering iron service has some distinctive features.
First, it is important to prepare the work surface. Take a new soldering iron, sharpen the sting of the device. To do this, the sting is pulled out, armed with a soldering iron or an electric machine, at an angle of up to 40 0 , then sharpen. If the soldering iron is being prepared for work with small radio components, it is necessary to give it a conical shape.
Professionals recommend making sure that the width of the sharp wedge is not less than a millimeter. If the sting form proposed by the manufacturer suits the consumer, you can skip this step. Since the soldering iron rod is covered with a patina - greenish copper oxide at the factory, before tinning it is important to remove the coating with abrasive material (sandpaper). Next, the sting is returned to the device, the soldering iron is connected to the electric network. It is necessary to wait for the surface of the sting to warm evenly, and then proceed to tinning.
Technology
During operation, copper and its alloys are capable of forming oxides with atmospheric oxygen. To prevent such situations, tinning of copper is used. To perform this procedure at home, you will need solder, soldering iron, rosin or flux. In order to properly tin the copper wire, it is important to heat the soldering iron properly. The conductor is pre-cleaned of insulation, removed (depending on needs) insulation. When working with a stranded wire, it is twisted before tinning.
Then they cover the copper core with rosin, warm it with a soldering iron throughout the volume. Tin is taken on a heated sting, it is distributed over the entire section of the wire pre-treated with rosin.
Due to mechanical stress, low-current conductors often break off in headphones. Since they have a small diameter, tinning uses a slightly different technology. Take a soldering iron with a thin sting, rosin, wire solder. First, the broken wires are soldered, then they begin to solder the new wire. The wires are coated with a layer of varnish (to ensure insulation), so it is first removed with a heated soldering iron and rosin. Then cover with a layer of tin, which greatly simplifies the subsequent soldering.