Bad smell from GC10 Solder Paste? Is it true? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: SimonD
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2018, 05:02:04 pm
content: Product : GC10 Solder Paste from Henkel / Loctite.Some guys report about some very bad smell from their ovens.Personally i don't have any experience from this product and i was ready to buy a portion to try it after all the good words, until i hear about this "problem".You guys you have allready use this product, what is your opinion about that ? Is it true?Thanks

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 25, 2018, 08:20:26 pm
content: I wouldn't call it a bad smell, but it isn't as nice as some other fluxes.

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2018, 11:47:42 pm
content: I've used it a lot. ( 10's of kg ) and i can't say i particullly notice it being bad.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2018, 12:15:32 am
content: Of all our senses, smell is probably most often the sense that is affected by genetics. Benjamin Franklin (USA) commented on the foul smell of urine after eating asparagus. Yet, others smell nothing. If you find the smell particularly objectionable vs. just a little stronger than ordinary rosin flux, you need a new parent (just kidding).Please give a link to the MSDS/TDS for that flux.

author: TJ232
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2018, 06:05:16 am
content: I don't know any solder paste with fresh roses smell capabilities but also I cannot say that CG10 smells better or worse that other solder paste used in the past.As for any other soldering process you need to have good ventilation and air filtration for your oven so at the end of the day it it shouldn't matter to much the generated smell.We have almost exclusively used CG10 in big quantities in the last 2 years and I think for now is probably the best solder paste available in it's class.

author: racemaniac
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2018, 12:15:54 pm
content: I agree with the above posts. Have been using GC10 for a while now, it does have its distinct smell, but i wouldn't call it bad, nor is it something i'd complain about.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2018, 12:40:17 pm
content: Looked up the MSDS. The flux contains a small amount of dodecane-1-thiol (C12H25SH). At room temperature that should not have much odor. At soldering temp, it should be much more volatile and more easily noticed.As described earlier, people vary in sensitivity to chemical odors. Thiols (-SH units, also called mercaptans) are well known to have strong odors. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiol)

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2018, 06:54:47 pm
content: I have quite good extraction going on around my reflow so i'm good from that perspective.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2018, 07:25:44 pm
content: The "good" thing about mercaptans, including H2S, is that you can smell them at several orders of magnitude lower concentrations than that at which they are toxic. Trivial fact/legend: The IR spectra of many common ones had not been recorded as of the latter part of the 1960's. The reason, most of the synthesis work was done in Germany, and the local townspeople ran the chemist out of town.