Will It Survive Reflow? Fastener Elements vs 250 °C Profiles
Any fastener that rides a reflow oven brings non-metallic elements into 245–260 °C territory for 60–90 seconds — twice if rework occurs. Material choice decides whether they emerge functional.
The survival table
- Stainless, brass, phosphor bronze: untroubled at any SAC profile.
- FKM (Viton-class) elastomers: fine to ~260 °C peak, the default for reflow-mounted seals.
- Silicone: survives temperature but compresses permanently; acceptable for one-cycle only.
- Nylon 6/6, POM: melt or creep at SAC peak — lead-free reflow ended their reflow career.
- High-temp nylons (PA46, PPS): survive marginal profiles but verify ramp slope, not just peak.
Protective measures
Where the functional element cannot survive reflow, specify removable protection: threaded caps, high-temperature covers, or designs where the element installs after soldering via a snap feature. Design intent should state explicitly which parts see the oven.
Topprecision publishes per-product reflow ratings — peak, ramp and cycle count — on its SMT datasheets, and will run your exact profile on samples before production commitment.
