A continuous supply of high-purity nitrogen plays a critical role in many modern soldering processes. Because of this, Trizo invested in an in-house nitrogen generator in 2024. Before exploring the benefits of on-site generation, it is important to understand why nitrogen matters so much in PCB manufacturing
Why Nitrogen Matters in PCB Soldering
Most metals oxidise quickly when exposed to air. This effect becomes stronger at high soldering temperatures. Oxidised metal surfaces do not solder well, which reduces electrical conductivity and weakens joints.
Flux helps remove oxidation and improves solder wetting. However, a short delay often occurs between flux activation and solder application. During this time, oxidation can return. As a result, joint quality and long-term reliability may suffer.
By soldering in a nitrogen atmosphere, we remove oxygen from the process. This prevents oxidation and supports stronger, more consistent solder joints.
Miniaturisation Increases Risk
As electronic assemblies become smaller, the risks linked to oxidation increase. Components, pads, and solder joints now sit closer together than ever before. Even tiny amounts of oxidation can cause defects at this scale.
For this reason, eliminating oxygen from the soldering environment has become essential. High-purity nitrogen provides the protection required for today’s fine-pitch and high-density deigns, especially in high-reliability markets.
Is Nitrogen Always Needed?
Nitrogen use in wave soldering has been common for many years. In contrast, some manufacturers question its value in reflow soldering. They argue that solder paste and flux limit oxidation during the process.
However, evidence shows that nitrogen improves solder joint quality in wave and selective soldering. It also delivers clear benefits in reflow processes, particularly as designs continue to shrink.
Miniaturisation demands smaller solder particles to improve paste print definition. This increases the surface-area-to-volume ratio and raises the risk of oxidation. Nitrogen helps control this risk and improves consistency.
Cleaner Processes and Better Reliability
A nitrogen atmosphere allows the use of milder, low-residue fluxes As a result, cleaning becomes easier and product reliability improves.
Many consumer electronics manufacturers accept residues and use no-clean processes. These products often have short service lives. Trizo operates in a very different market. We focus on cleanliness, precision, and long-term performance.
Why Trizo Generates Nitrogen In-House
Trizo supports customers in high-reliability markets. For that reason, we use nitrogen across wave, reflow, and selective soldering processes. A dependable supply of high-purity nitrogen is essential to our production.
By generating nitrogen on site, we maintain full control over purity and availability. This ensures uninterrupted production and consistent product performance. Like all critical manufacturing processes, managing nitrogen in-house supports our commitment to quality and reliability.
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