STIRRI® ASM-TF™ – The Original Classic No-Clean Universal Tacky Flux

The Prosumer's Choice for Rework, Automated and Hand-Soldering

STIRRI® ASM-TF™ is a high-performance, universal no-clean tacky flux engineered for both leaded and lead-free solder applications. This versatile flux is ideal for a broad range of soldering processes, including manual hand-soldering and automated assembly lines utilizing pneumatic dispensers, solder paste printers, BGA machines, and reflow ovens. The formulation includes our proprietary HX-Booster™ package coupled with a chloride activator for superior oxide stripping.

Featuring an RMA-grade performance, ASM-TF™ boasts an optimal viscosity and a light, creamy flux body, leaving a clear, benign residue that can be reliably left on the board, eliminating the need for post-soldering cleaning in many applications. It also incorporates a QC-Aid™ optical tracer, enabling instant visual cleaning Quality Control (QC) certification through inspection in the blacklight/UV light. The flux provides a nearly odorless formulation, enhancing workplace safety and comfort. For situations requiring residue removal, it is easily cleaned with common solvents such as isopropanol (IPA), acetone, or industrial no-clean solvents. Optimal cleaning results are achieved when the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is still warm.

The HX-Booster™ package, which augments halogens, may cause the unactivated residue to exhibit temporary conductivity. This characteristic ensures superior soldering performance and can be fully addressed by optimizing the soldering profile with additional time and heat, or by cleaning the assembly. The activated residue is benign and fully conforms to J-STD-004C for no-clean formulations.

Key Performance Advantages

• RMA-Grade Performance: This flux boasts optimal viscosity and a light, creamy flux body, leaving a clear, benign residue that can be reliably left on the board. While classic RMA uses polymerized rosin, resulting in a darker color and residue, ASM uses hydrogenated rosin, which has similar properties but is extremely clear.
• Versatile Application: Ideal for a broad range of soldering processes, including manual hand-soldering and automated assembly lines utilizing pneumatic dispensers, solder paste printers, BGA machines, and reflow ovens.
• Superior Clarity: The translucent residue allows for an unobstructed view of solder joints and IC pins, offering ultimate control over the soldering process.
• Non-Corrosive: This flux is non-corrosive, and its activated residue is fully benign and can be left on the PCB.
• Excellent Component Hold: Maintains a strong tack to hold components in place, yet allows for easy repositioning with a hot air gun.

Suitable for:

General electronics repair, hand soldering, BGA rework, and automated soldering processes.

Compliance and Standards

• Classification: ROL0 (Halide-free <0.05%)
• Environmental Compliance: REACH-compliant and environmentally/health-friendly.

Formulation Details

• Rosin/Synthetic Resin Blend: A balanced blend of reprocessed rosin crystal and fully synthetic resin provides excellent soldering performance, minimal residues, and broad alloy compatibility.
• Low-Residue Characteristics: Ideal for applications where cleaning is challenging due to component density, equipment limitations, temperature constraints, or restricted access.

Manufacturing and Application

• Flux Application Method: The flux is designed for use with various modern dispensing equipment, including positive displacement and time/pressure systems, as well as manual application.
• Solder Alloy Compatibility: The flux exhibits excellent compatibility with a wide range of solder alloys, including SnAgCu and SnPb alloys, making it an all-purpose solution.

Ready for Implementation

While ASM-TF™ is designed as a no-clean flux, cleaning may be necessary prior to conformal coating to ensure optimal coating adhesion and long-term reliability, particularly in harsh operating environments. As a supplier of both fluxes and conformal coatings, we can offer expert guidance on selecting the appropriate cleaning procedures and conformal coating materials for your specific application. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

For even greater performance and modern features, explore our next-generation V3 and V4 series fluxes. V3-TF is the high-performance evolution adding REACH compliance and dual tracers (Visual QC-Aid™ and Olfactory QC-Aid™). While a reliable product, V3 has certain design considerations regarding its longevity and cleanability addressed in V4-TF, next-generation solution engineered to enhance the performance of V3. Its key advancements are AIRfree™ technology, which provides a splatter-free, consistent flow, and an improved solvent system with a higher boiling point for enhanced longevity under hot air and superior cleanability. However, if these enhancements are not necessary, we recommend you stick with the original ASM formulation to benefit from its proven, robust chemistry and much lower cost.

ROL0 classification - no-clean and not corrosive. Halide-free (<0.05%). Surface insulation resistant. No copper mirror breakthrough. Low electrochemical migration (<1 decade drop)

42-54 mPa/s (Malcom @ 10 RPM/25ºC (x 10³mPa/s))

“No-clean” indicates cleaning method as defined by IPC standard and does not mean that the flux leaves no residue. No-clean rather means that the flux can be left on PCB for several consecutive SMT assemblies but also won’t cause corrosion if left indefinitely. However, cleaning can be necessary and it is desirable. No-clean fluxes are easily removed using industrial solvents in ultrasonic devices or using commercially available flux residue removers like STIRRI HydraSweep™.

This product does not include any Dispensing Kit - a separate purchase! 

Dispensing Kit is an add-on for manual dispensing, used to create a pressure with a plunger similarly to a medical syringe.

Air syringes intended for pneumatic dispensing machines use a piston stopper instead of a plunger. Do not remove the piston as it delivers the best seal preventing contact with air!

This material is certified REACH-compliant - does not use any raw materials from the REACH restricted list of substances of high concern.