Proper soldering always involves a substance that protects the metal from oxidation. Hobbyists should use a safe and natural product – colophony. This is basic knowledge that every electromechanic or electrician must acquire. However, not everyone knows that colophony also has applications in other sectors. Do you know what connects colophony with ballet, string instruments, or even wound plasters? Let us explain!
Colophony – what is it?
Colophony (Latin: colophonium) is a soft, natural resin. It is produced by distilling pine resin. It looks like an aromatic, brittle, glassy, amber substance with a shiny gloss. It can be used in its pure and unprocessed form or modified (liquid, paste, or solid wax).
Natural origin and composition
Colophony is classified as a so-called green technology. This classification is due to its natural origin, biodegradability, non-toxicity (in solid form!), and safety of use.
Types of Colophony
Colophony can be divided into several types, differing in composition, properties, production methods, and intended use. Depending on the production method, we distinguish:
- Balsamic Colophony: A “pure” raw material of 100% natural origin. It is rarely chosen for soldering and welding. Instead, it is used in instrument making and other non-standard fields.
- Balsamic Colophony with Additives (Soldering Colophony, Colophony for Soldering): This is no longer “pristine” rosin, as it has been enriched with various additives that enhance its properties. It is more commonly chosen for soldering and welding.
- Tall Oil Colophony: It does not match the properties of balsamic colophony because it is contaminated with sulfur. However, its production is the cheapest among all mentioned, and the modified version is promising.
- Extracted Colophony: Dark orange, refined with various additives, though with inferior chemical properties compared to the others. It is suitable only for the production of paper adhesives, varnishes, and phonograph records.
Soldering Colophony – Physicochemical Properties
Soldering colophony is a good flux (a substance that facilitates and accelerates the soldering process). The additives it contains include solvents and activators. Modifiers are responsible for its beneficial physicochemical properties, such as:
- Ability to reduce metal oxides, which promotes the formation of durable joints. It is also very helpful in processes like tin diffusion.
- Meltability, flammability, thermoplasticity – a hard solid at low temperatures, but when it reaches a temperature range of 80–120°C, it becomes liquid.
- Excellent solubility in organic solvents, such as acetone, ethyl and methyl alcohol, gasoline, or turpentine oil, but it does not dissolve in water.
- Chemically inert – no undesirable reactions with solder or other system components.
- Lightweight when heated, so it easily adheres to soldered surfaces. Residues after soldering have low electrical conductivity, thus preventing short circuits.
- Easy to process.
- Safe to use for every user. Only natural balsamic colophony may cause allergies.
Soldering – Is Colophony Necessary?
Theoretically, soldering can be done without colophony, but it is advisable to use it for practical reasons: it significantly facilitates the soldering process.
Check out our video Colophony – Soldering Cables, where we compare two methods of soldering wires: without using colophony and with its application. See the differences and decide which solution will be best for your situation.
What is Colophony Used For?
The primary use of modified colophony is in welding processes. The product plays a key role during soldering, where it is responsible for:
- Removing oxides and other impurities from the metal surface to ensure better bonding between soldered elements.
- Acting as an antioxidant, protecting the metal from oxidation during heating.
Applications of Colophony – Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Colophony is widely used in electronics and electrical engineering, both during the assembly of new circuits and in maintenance work. Its popularity in these fields stems from its ability to create durable, conductive connections between metal components, especially in environments prone to oxidation. Examples of applications in electrical and electronic engineering include:
- Service assembly.
- Connecting copper wires in electrical installations.
- Protection against oxidation of joints.
- Eliminating the risk of “cold joints”.
It can also be used for:
- Repairing consumer electronics and appliances – regenerating connections and replacing components.
- DIY modeling – creating home projects and purely hobbyist constructions.
Unconventional Uses of Colophony – Not Just for Soldering!
Remember, the previous fields discussed soldering colophony, which is colophony enriched with an activator to facilitate the soldering process. But that’s not the only application where colophony plays a key role.
Unconventional, broad uses of “ordinary” colophony include:
- Medicine: An ingredient in some dressings and pharmacy plasters – durable and with excellent adhesion – as well as in some medications, moisturizing creams, wound and bruise protection creams, protective ointments, and irritation-soothing ointments, and cleaning agents.
- Music: Used for maintaining bow hair (rubbing it on bows), making it rougher, which helps it grip the strings better.
- Sports: Used to rub on hands, which is extremely beneficial during sports like soccer, handball, basketball, and volleyball.
- Dance and Acrobatics: Ballet dancers rub it on their pointe shoes (ballet shoes) for better grip on the floor, and similarly, aerial acrobats use it.
- Cosmetology: Used in the production of cosmetics, such as creams and waxes. It increases the viscosity of creams.
- Nutrition: Found in chewing gums and fruit waxes.
- Jewelry Making: One of the components in jewelry amber.
- Woodworking: An ingredient in synthetic resins, adhesives, putties, and other products used in woodworking.
- Manufacturing: Used in the production of synthetic paints and varnishes, oil paints, driers (substances that accelerate the drying of oil paints), and extracts for preservation and impregnation.
Colophony in Ballet and Dance
Colophony is used in the world of performance: ballet, classical theater, and musical theater – typically in the form of powder or crushed colophony. Ballet dancers, professional dancers (ballroom dance), and stage performers use it to increase the grip of their footwear on the floor. The substance prevents slipping and enhances coordination and smoother movement of dancers on stage.
Colophony in String Instruments
Colophony is also used by musicians. They apply the amber product to the bows of violins, violas, or cellos to increase friction between the bow hair and the strings. This action allows for the production of a clear sound – without colophony, the bow would “slide” over the strings, resulting in false notes or a general lack of acoustics.
Colophony from AG TermoPasty – Proven Quality for Soldering with Tin-Lead Alloy
Our colophony is a high-quality flux available in convenient forms such as a tin, zip-lock bag, or bucket. It combines the best features of natural and modified rosin. It is characterized by:
- Chemical purity – free from heavy metal impurities.
- Ease of application – convenient form.
- Compatibility – suitable for both manual and machine soldering.
It has versatile applications in production plants and workshops. It can also be easily used in everyday situations, for soldering at home.
We encourage you to explore our products – we have a wide range of other soldering preparations.
We discussed alternative solutions to colophony, i.e., other products supporting soldering and welding, in the article Soldering Preparations – Liquid Soldering Aids.
Why Choose Colophony?
Colophony is an important product. It is usually associated with soldering and welding – this is the role of soldering colophony. As you already know, it is not its only use. Balsamic colophony – pure, natural, without any additives – is used in many everyday fields, such as art, medicine, and cosmetics.
In this article, we focused on general information about colophony and did not delve into the detailed operation of soldering colophony during soldering – we will expand on this topic soon.
If you want to learn more interesting facts about colophony, soldering paste, or need advice on soldering and welding, contact us! We are happy to help!