Solder Safety
Cadmium
All noble solders and the following Hauser & Miller solders: 6K yellow easy, 8K yellow easy, 10K yellow easy, HM 564B, HM 564A, and HM 569A contain cadmium. Safety precautions should always be followed when soldering or brazing any alloys. Cadmium replacements, such as indium and other low fusing alloys (zinc, tin, etc.), are required to reduce the melting point of solders. They also produce hazardous fumes if overheated or improperly fluxed. Fluoride fumes from fluxes may also be produced during soldering. The following well-tested precautions should be implemented to avoid the hazards from these fumes.
Ventilate Confined Areas
Use ventilation fans and exhaust hoods to carry all fumes away from work and worker. Do not lean over the work area. Try to work at eye level.
Clean Metals Thoroughly
A surface contaminant of unknown composition on metals may add to fume hazards and may cause a flux breakdown that occurs too rapidly leading to overheating.
Use Sufficient Flux
Flux protects the metals being joined during the heating cycle. Full flux coverage reduces the chance of fumes.
Heat Metals Broadly
Heat the metals broadly and uniformly. Intense localized heating uses up flux and increases the danger of fuming. Apply heat only to metals being joined not to filler metal. (Direct flame on filler metals causes overheating and fuming.)
Known Your Metals
Be especially careful not to overheat assembly when using filler metals that contain cadmium. Consult the
Material Safety Data Sheet for the alloy and solder used.
