Droplet Weld an Environmentally Friendly, Lead - Free Joining Technology Using Metal Droplets.

Objective

Up-coming legislation will forbid the use of lead-containing solders in the near future. Good alternatives for electrical interconnection have not been found. Alternative solder materials are much more expensive (factor 4), and have a lower though output (longer contact times of the product). Very often lead-free solders contain other environmental unfriendly components (such as bismuth and antimony). Gluing is limited to low temperature applications. Droplet weld is a novel alternative of a lead-free joining technology and this welding is using simple and low costs materials. In droplet welding a metal droplet is produced from a feed wire by local heating using a plasma arc or laser irradiation. A hot metal droplet is subsequently detached and will fall onto the parts to be joined. First tests have shown that a single hot droplet is sufficient to make a high temperature weld.

Programme(s)

• FP5-GROWTH - Programme for research technological development and demonstration on "Competitive and sustainable growth 1998-2002"

Topic(s)

• 1.1.3.-1. - Key Action Innovative Products, Processes and Organisation

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

N/A

Participants (7)

GRUNDFOS A/S

Denmark

Address

Poul Due Jensensvej 7
8850 Bjerringbro

HAAS-LASER GMBH & CO. KG

Germany

Address

39,Aichhalderstrasse 39
78713 Schramberg

LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY

United Kingdom

Address

Ashby Road
LE11 3TU Loughborough

LPKF MOTION & CONTROL GMBH

Germany

Address

Nuer Friedberg 1
98527 Suhl

MC. GREGOR WELDING SYSTEMS LTD.

United Kingdom

Address

69,Fred Dannatt Road 69
IP28 7RD Mildenhall

UNIVERSITY OF ERLANGEN-NUREMBERG

Germany

Address

Egerlandstraße 11
91058 Erlangen

UNIVERSITY OF LJUBLJANA

Slovenia

Address

Askerceva 6
1000 Ljubljana