heat-free soldering tagged posts

The vial contains liquid-metal particles suspended in ethanol. The particles were used to demonstrate heat-free soldering. Credit: Christopher Gannon/Iowa State University

One of the latest innovations from Thuo’s lab is finding a way to make micro-scale, liquid-metal particles that can be used for heat-free soldering plus the fabricating, repairing and processing of metals – all at room temperature. He’s worked with Tevis to launch SAFI-Tech which plans to locate to the Iowa State Economic Development StartUp Factory when it opens in the ISU Research Park later this year. The project started as a search for a way to stop liquid metal from returning to a solid – even below the metal’s melting point...