Why is tin with 97% purity considered pure tin?

In the field of metallic materials, the definition of "pure" often varies depending on the application scenario. For tin, the widespread acceptance of 97% purity as "pure tin" stems both from the industry's balancing act between performance and cost, and is inextricably linked to technical practices in high-end manufacturing. As a global leader in microelectronics and semiconductor packaging materials, Fitech's technological breakthroughs and product applications vividly illustrate this standard.

1. Industry Practice: Purity Standards Originate from Application Requirements

In the metals industry, "pure" typically refers to commercial purity rather than absolute purity. For instance, international standards or industry specifications may define alloys with ≥97% tin content as "pure tin" to meet the minimum requirements for foundational applications like soldering and plating. This standard aligns closely with practices at companies like Fitech—whose ultra-fine solder pastes (e.g., Powder No. 6, Powder No. 7) do not pursue absolute purity but meet stringent reliability demands in high-end sectors like defense and aerospace by controlling impurity types and levels (e.g., lead, copper). For instance, in LED chip packaging, Fitech's high-temperature solder paste achieves stable soldering at 280°C through alloy design based on 97% purity, establishing itself as the industry's preferred material.

2. Technological Breakthrough: Precision Balance of Purity and Performance

Absolutely pure tin (e.g., 99.99%) is costly and challenging to process (e.g., melting point fluctuations, increased brittleness). Through ultra-fine powder technology and alloying innovations, Fitech achieved a performance leap based on 97% purity:

Low-Temperature Solder Paste: By adding elements like bismuth, the melting point is reduced to 138°C while maintaining conductivity and wettability. This serves as an "eco-friendly solution" for precision component soldering, excelling in protecting heat-sensitive components and boosting production efficiency.

High-Temperature Solder Paste: Optimizing the tin-silver-copper alloy ratio enhances high-temperature resistance, meeting demands in automotive electronics, power devices, and similar applications.

This approach—"using 97% purity as the foundation and enhancing value through technological empowerment"—validates the industry's pragmatic definition of "pure tin": performance compliance defines purity.

3. Cost-Effectiveness: The Rational Choice for High-End Manufacturing

In high-end fields such as semiconductor packaging, material costs and process efficiency directly impact product competitiveness. Fitech's practice demonstrates that 97% pure tin offers significant advantages in balancing cost and performance:

Material Cost: Compared to 99.99% pure tin, 97% pure tin reduces raw material costs by over 30% and is easier to process.

Process Adaptability: Fitech's ultra-fine solder paste maintains particle sizes between 2-10 microns, enabling high-precision printing and narrow-pitch soldering while reducing rework rates—delivering outstanding overall cost advantages.

For instance, its low-temperature solder paste is deployed across SMT production lines at multiple leading global electronics manufacturers, helping clients lower production costs without compromising performance.

4. Industry Recognition: Standard-Setting Participant and Promoter

As the leading unit in formulating the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's electronic solder powder standards, Fitech's products and technical standards directly influence the industry's definition of "pure tin." For instance, its ultra-fine solder paste has passed rigorous certifications from numerous global SMT electronic chemical manufacturers, micro-optoelectronics producers, and semiconductor packaging and testing firms, establishing itself as a "hidden champion" in high-end packaging. This market position further solidifies 97% purity tin's status as "pure tin" within the industry—when technical practice and market demand converge, standards naturally emerge.

The designation of 97% tin as "pure tin" fundamentally represents an industry compromise between performance, cost, and practicality. Through ultra-fine powder technology, alloy innovation, and process adaptability design, Fitech has elevated this standard to new heights. In high-end manufacturing, 97% pure tin not only meets fundamental requirements but achieves performance leaps through technological empowerment, becoming a model where "purity and value coexist."