Letter 7054

Contaminants in Tin/Lead Solder 

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I have read that various contaminants such as cadmium, in Tin/Lead solder used for tinning copper sheets and for joining copper for use in roofing, deleteriously affect how the solder will wet the copper surface.

I need some specific references to represent accurately how watertightness of a flat seam copper roof might be affected.

Gerald B. Curtis
- BUCKHANNON WV

Although Cd is not often encountered as a contaminant in solder, ANY contaminant can have a deleterious effect. What happens is that the phase diagram you are accustomed to working with shifts. This can have radical effects upon the way any alloy behaves. Copper for roofing is generally free from Cd contamination, and solder is also free. Copper and solder generally work well together, so, if there is a contamination problem, I would go to the suppliers to solve it.

James Totter, CEF - Tallahassee, FL

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