EN ISO 9455-16:2013

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2013
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SIST EN ISO 9455-16:2002
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Soft soldering fluxes - Test methods - Part 16: Flux efficacy test, wetting balance method
(ISO 9455-16:2013)
Flussmittel zum Weichlöten - Prüfverfahren - Teil 16: Bestimmung der Wirksamkeit des
Flussmittels, Verfahren zur Messung der Benetzungskraft (ISO 9455-16:2013)
Flux de brasage tendre - Méthodes d'essai - Partie 16: Essai d'efficacité du flux,
méthode à la balance de mouillage (ISO 9455-16:2013)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 9455-16:2013
ICS:
25.160.50 Trdo in mehko lotanje Brazing and soldering
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN ISO 9455-16
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
April 2013
ICS 25.160.50 Supersedes EN ISO 9455-16:2001
English Version
Soft soldering fluxes - Test methods - Part 16: Flux efficacy test,
wetting balance method (ISO 9455-16:2013)
Flux de brasage tendre - Méthodes d'essai - Partie 16: Flussmittel zum Weichlöten - Prüfverfahren - Teil 16:
Essai d'efficacité du flux, méthode à la balance de Bestimmung der Wirksamkeit des Flussmittels, Verfahren
mouillage (ISO 9455-16:2013) zur Messung der Benetzungskraft (ISO 9455-16:2013)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 2 February 2013.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same
status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United
Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2013 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 9455-16:2013: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Foreword .3
Foreword
This document (EN ISO 9455-16:2013) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 44 "Welding and
allied processes" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 121 “Welding” the secretariat of which is
held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by October 2013, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at
the latest by October 2013.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 9455-16:2001.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 9455-16:2013 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 9455-16:2013 without any modification.

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 9455-16
Second edition
2013-04-15
Soft soldering fluxes — Test methods —
Part 16:
Flux efficacy test, wetting balance
method
Flux de brasage tendre — Méthodes d’essai —
Partie 16: Essai d’efficacité du flux, méthode à la balance de mouillage
Reference number
ISO 9455-16:2013(E)
©
ISO 2013
ISO 9455-16:2013(E)
© ISO 2013
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail copyright@iso.org
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

ISO 9455-16:2013(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Symbols . 1
4 Principle . 2
5 Reagents . 2
6 Apparatus . 2
7 Test pieces . 3
8 Procedure. 3
8.1 Preparation of the test pieces. 3
8.2 Test method . 3
9 Reference value using standard flux . 4
10 Presentation of results . 4
11 Calculation and expression of results . 6
12 Test report . 7
Annex A (normative) Method for the preparation of standard rosin (colophony) based liquid
fluxes having 25 % (by mass) non-volatile content
......................................................................................................... 8
Annex B (normative) Method for the production of test pieces with a controlled-contaminated
surface for the wetting balance test (artificial sulfidation method) .10
ISO 9455-16:2013(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies
casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 9455-16 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 44, Welding and allied processes, Subcommittee
SC 12, Soldering materials.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 9455-16:1998), which has been
technically revised.
ISO 9455 consists of the following parts, under the general title Soft soldering fluxes — Test methods:
— Part 1: Determination of non-volatile matter, gravimetric method
— Part 2: Determination of non-volatile matter, ebulliometric method
— Part 3: Determination of acid value, potentiometric and visual titration methods
— Part 5: Copper mirror test
— Part 6: Determination and detection of halide (excluding fluoride) content
— Part 8: Determination of zinc content
— Part 9: Determination of ammonia content
— Part 10: Flux efficacy test, solder spread method
— Part 11: Solubility of flux residues
— Part 13: Determination of flux spattering
— Part 14: Assessment of tackiness of flux residues
— Part 15: Copper corrosion test
— Part 16: Flux efficacy test, wetting balance method
— Part 17: Surface insulation resistance comb test and electrochemical migration test of flux residues
Requests for official interpretations of any aspect of this part of ISO 9455 should be directed to the
Secretariat of ISO/TC 44/SC 12 via your national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can
be found at www.iso.org.
iv © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 9455-16:2013(E)
Soft soldering fluxes — Test methods —
Part 16:
Flux efficacy test, wetting balance method
1 Scope
This part of ISO 9455 specifies a method for the assessment of the efficacy of a soft soldering flux, known
as the wetting balance method. It gives a qualitative assessment of the comparative efficacy of two
fluxes (for example, a standard and a test flux), based on their capacity to promote wetting of a metal
surface by liquid solder. The method is applicable to all flux types in liquid form classified in ISO 9454-1.
NOTE It is hoped that future developments using improved techniques for obtaining a reproducible range
of test surfaces will enable this method for assessing flux efficacy to be quantitative. For this reason, several
alternative procedures for preparing the surface of the test piece are included in the present method.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 9453, Soft solder alloys — Chemical compositions and forms
ISO 9454-1, Soft soldering fluxes — Classification and requirements — Part 1: Classification, labelling
and packaging
IEC 60068-2-20:2008, Environmental testing — Part 2-20: Tests — Test T: Test methods for solderability
and resistance to soldering heat of devices with leads
IEC 60068-2-54, Environmental testing — Part 2-54: Tests — Test Ta: Solderability testing of electronic
components by the wetting balance method
IEC 60068-2-78:2001, Environmental testing — Part 2-78: Tests; Test Cab: Damp heat, steady state
3 Symbols
d depth of immersion, in millimetres, of the test piece below the undisturbed solder level
A cross sectional area, in square millimetres, of the test piece at the solder line
ρ density, in grams per millilitre, of the solder under test at the test temperature
F wetting force, in millinewtons
t time at which the test piece first makes contact with the surface of the liquid solder in the bath
t time at which the solder starts to wet the test piece (point A, see Figure 1), at which point the
trace begins to fall
t time at which the recorded force is equal to the upward force due to buoyancy
t time at which the trace crosses the reference line
ISO 9455-16:2013(E)
4 Principle
The efficacy of the liquid flux under test is compared with that of a standard liquid flux, using a wetting
balance in conjunction with a specified test piece, appropriate to the class of flux under test.
5 Reagents
Use only reagents of recognized analytical quality and only distilled or deionized water.
5.1 Acid cleaning solution, prepared as follows:
Add cautiously, while stirring, 75 ml of sulfuric acid (ρ = 1,84 g/ml) to 210 ml of water and mix. Cool the
solution to room temperature. Add 15 ml of nitric acid (ρ = 1,42 g/ml) and mix thoroughly.
5.2 Acetone.
5.3 Propan-2-ol, complying with the following requirements:
— propan-2-ol: 99,5 % (by mass) minimum;
— acid content: 0,002 % (by mass) maximum;
— non-volatile content: 0,2 % (by mass) maximum.
Isopropyl alcohol (also propan-2-ol, 2-propanol or the abbreviation IPA) is a common name for this
chemical compound, which has the molecular formula C H O.
3 8
6 Apparatus
Usual laboratory apparatus and, in particular, the following.
6.1 Wetting balance and ancillary instrumentation, as described in IEC 60068-2-54.
Calibrate the apparatus in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
6.2 Solder bath.
As a minimum, the bath temperature shall be capable of being maintained at a temperature corresponding
to the liquidus temperature of the alloy under test plus 35 °C. The test temperature shall be reported in
the test report.
The dimensions of the solder bath shall be such that no portion of the test piece (see Clause 7) is less than
15 mm from the wall of the bath and the depth of the liquid solder in the bath shall be not less than 30 mm.
The solder used for the test and the test temperature shall be one of the following:
— Sn60Pb40 (see ISO 9453) at 235 °C ± 3 °C;
— Sn96,5Ag3,0Cu0,5 (see ISO 9453) at 255 °C ± 3 °C;
— any other solder and temperature combinations as agreed between the customer and the flux supplier.
6.3 Acid-free filter paper.
2 © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

ISO 9455-16:2013(E)
7 Test pieces
The test pieces shall be made of copper.
EXAMPLE Test pieces are cut from a rectangular copper sheet. The dimensions of each test piece are as follows:
— width: 10,0 mm ± 0,1 mm;
— length: constant between 15 mm and 30 mm, to suit the equipment used;
— thickness: either 0,10 mm ± 0,02 mm or 0,30 mm ± 0,05 mm.
When testing fluxes of type 1 or 2 (as defined in ISO 9454-1), full details of the test pieces shall be given
in the test report.
The sheet or other article used for preparing the test pieces shall be clean and free from contamination.
In order to obtain accurate results, the test pieces shall be cut cleanly without leaving significant burrs.
8 Procedure
8.1 Preparation of the test pieces
8.1.1 Cleaning
The test pieces shall be handled with clean tongs throughout. Select sufficient test pieces (see Clause 7)
to allow 10 per test flux and 10 per standard flux. Degrease them in acetone (5.2) and allow to dry.
Immerse them for 20 s in the acid cleaning solution (5.1) at room temperature. Remove the test pieces
from the acid cleaning solution and wash for about five seconds under running tap water. Rinse with
distilled or deionized water then acetone (5.2) and dry with acid-free filter paper (6.3).
If required, the test pieces may be stored in acetone after rinsing them in deionized water. When needed,
they shall be removed from the acetone and dried with acid-free filter paper (6.3).
Subject all the test pieces to one of the ageing procedures given in 8.1.2 to 8.1.4 as agreed between the
flux supplier and the customer.
8.1.2 Ageing the surface by sulfidation process
Carry out the procedure given in Annex B on all the cleaned test pieces (see 8.1.1).
8.1.3 Steam ageing the surface
Carry out the steam ageing procedure given in IEC 60068-2-20:2008, 4.1.1, ageing procedure 1b, for a
period of 4 h on all the cleaned test pieces (see 8.1.1).
8.1.4 Damp-heat, steady-state ageing
Subject all the cleaned pieces (see 8.1.1) to the test chamber conditions specified in IEC 60068-2-78:2001,
Clause 4, for a period selected from 1 h, 4 h or 24 h.
8.2 Test method
8.2.1 Carry out the following test procedure on each of the 10 test pieces. Complete all 10 tests within
45 min of the preparation stage (see 8.1).
ISO 9455-16:2013(E)
8.2.2 If the flux under test is of type 1 or type 2 (as defined in ISO 9454-1), maintain the temperature of
the solder bath at 235 °C ± 3 °C or 255 °C ± 3 °C (see 6.2).
When testing fluxes which are not type 1 or type 2 (as defined in ISO 9454-1), the bath temperature
requirements and the standard flux to be used for comparison shall be agreed between the flux supplier
and the customer.
8.2.3 Remove one of the test pieces from the acetone, dry it between two sheets of acid-free filter paper
(6.3) and place it in the wetting balance specimen clip so that the long edges are vertical. Dip the test
piece in the flux solution under test at room temperature, to a depth of no less than 3 mm greater than the
depth selected for immersion of the test piece in the solder (see 8.2.5). Avoid excess flux by withdrawing
the test piece cornerwise from the flux. If excess flux is still visible, touch the corner of the test piece on
clean filter paper.
8.2.4 Attach the specimen clip to the wetting balance, ensuring that the bottom edge of the test piece
is horizontal and approximately 20 mm above the solder bath (6.2). Allow it to remain there for 20 s± 5 s
so that the solvent in the flux can evaporate before the test commences. Some types of flux might require
a drying time which is shorter or longer than 20 s± 5 s. In these cases, the drying time shall be agreed
between the flux supplier and the customer. During this drying period, adjust the suspension force signal
and recorder trace to the desired zero position.
Immediately before starting the test, scrape the surface of the solder bath with a blade of suitable
material to remove oxides.
8.2.5 Either by raising the solder bath or by lowering the test piece, dip the test piece into the molten
solder at a speed of 20 mm/s ± 5 mm/s to a depth of either 3 mm ± 0,2 mm or 4 mm ± 0,2 mm.
Hold the test piece in this position for 5 s to 10 s and then withdraw it at a speed of 20 mm/s ± 5 mm/s.
Record the wetting force against time for the period during which the test piece is in contact with the solder.
8.2.6 Repeat operations 8.2.2 to 8.2.5 for each of the remaining nine test pieces.
9 Reference value using standard flux
Carry out the procedure described in Clause 8 using a further 10 test pieces (see Clause 7) but using a
standard flux instead of the flux under test. If the flux under test is of type 1 or type 2 (as defined in
ISO 9454-1), the standard flux prepared as described in Annex A may be used. If the flux under test is
of type 1.1.1 or 1.2.1 (as defined in ISO 9454-1), use the standard flux prepared as described in A.5.1. If
the flux under test is of type 1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.2.2 or 1.2.3 (as defined in ISO 9454-1), use the st
...