Soldering (see RoHS), has led to a change in formulation of both solders and fluxes. Water-soluble non-rosin-based fluxes have been increasingly used since the 1980s so that soldered boards can be cleaned with water or water-based cleaners. This eliminates hazardous solvents from the production environment, and from factory effluents. Those regulations have also reduced the use of lead based solders, and caused the melting temperatures of solders in use to increase by up to . "Hot-bar reflow" is a selective soldering process where two pre-fluxed, solder coated parts are heated with heating element (called a thermode) to a sufficient temperature to
Sopormetal Sopormetal Sopormetal International Group was founded on February 2, 1985. It began as a Portuguese company supplying brazing materials, silver and copper brazing solders. SOPORMETAL is a producer of brazing materials such as silver solders, copper/phosphorus, soft solders and fluxes. Cadmium-free silver solder, special alloys and tri-metal alloys for the entire industry, as well as several special alloys in the form of rod, strips, rings and various preforms. Coated silver solders with different ratios having regard the technology used for brazing and fusion technical parameters. Copper phosphorus alloys with and without silver for all sectors, as well with different types