Indium Solder Wire

The unique characteristics of indium metal make it an ideal solution for many soldering and sealing applications. As a solder wire, pure indium provides an excellent hermetic seal since it fills the imperfections in the mating surfaces. Pure indium also remains malleable at cryogenic temperatures so that sealing applications operating in harsh conditions are not compromised.

Indium-containing alloys can also be used for sealing, but are more commonly used for low temperature soldering. For example, Indalloy^® 1E, which is lead-free and melts at 118°C, and can be used in unique applications like bonding to glass or ceramics. Adding silver, tin, or other elements to indium metal changes its physical properties. In some cases, these changes allow us to produce wire with diameters as small as 0.001” (0.025mm). These additional elements also affect the melting point, hardness, and ductility of the alloy.

We manufacture solder wire containing indium and indium alloys with diameters ranging from 0.010” (0.25mm) - 0.250” (6.35mm) and up. Wire dimensions can vary based on the properties of each metal alloy, which can allow us to make some wire with diameters less than 0.010” (0.25mm).

Our solder wire is manufactured without the use of surface coatings, and all but the largest diameter wires (rods) are packaged on spools to protect the soft material. The shelf life of our solder wire is determined by the purity of indium, as well as packaging and environmental conditions. To increase storage time and minimize surface oxidation after opening the original packaging, keep the wire tightly sealed in the original container at 55% RH or less at or below 22^°C. You can also store our solder wire in an inert atmosphere, such as in a nitrogen dry box.