Hand soldering surface mount tantalum capacitors

Log in or register to post comments
Go To Last Post
5 posts / 0 new
Author
Message
MarkThomas
MarkThomas's picture
Level: Posting Freak
Joined: Sat. Sep 3, 2011
Posts: 1077 View posts
Location: San Francisco
#1
Posted by MarkThomas: Sun. Dec 10, 2017 - 04:58 AM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

Is there a danger of popping a surface mount tantalum capacitor because of absorbed moisture while hand soldering with a soldering iron?

Tags:

Learning and Information, General Electronics
Top
Kartman
Kartman's picture
Level: 10k+ Postman
Joined: Thu. Dec 30, 2004
Posts: 21765 View posts
Location: Melbourne,Australia
Posted by Kartman: Sun. Dec 10, 2017 - 10:47 AM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

I’ve not had such a problem. It’s mainly with reflow ovens that the problem occurs.

Top
MarkThomas
MarkThomas's picture
Level: Posting Freak
Joined: Sat. Sep 3, 2011
Posts: 1077 View posts
Location: San Francisco
Posted by MarkThomas: Sun. Dec 10, 2017 - 05:46 PM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

Thanks Kartman.  I knew some ICs had the problem of absorbed moisture but were OK to hand solder, but I didn't know tantalum capacitors absorbed moisture.  After doing a Google on "soldering surface mount tantalum capacitors absorbed moisture" I learned that they are very porous and absorbed moisture can affect their performance, especially in high humidity environments, and reflow soldering can cause cracking.  After reading what I found I am going to use fewer tantalums.  Thanks. 

Last Edited: Sun. Dec 10, 2017 - 05:55 PM
Top
Kartman
Kartman's picture
Level: 10k+ Postman
Joined: Thu. Dec 30, 2004
Posts: 21765 View posts
Location: Melbourne,Australia
Posted by Kartman: Sun. Dec 10, 2017 - 09:46 PM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

Just about all components absorb moisture even the pcb. Ceramic caps and leds are major problems as well. Again rarely a problem when hand soldering.
Where hand soldering can be an issue is with large surface mount ceramics - hand soldering causes a temperature differential that can cause them to crack.

Last Edited: Sun. Dec 10, 2017 - 09:47 PM
Top
MarkThomas
MarkThomas's picture
Level: Posting Freak
Joined: Sat. Sep 3, 2011
Posts: 1077 View posts
Location: San Francisco
Posted by MarkThomas: Sun. Dec 10, 2017 - 10:31 PM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

Thanks, Kartman.  Good to know.

Top