A flux is a substance or mixture added to assist the fusion of minerals. In the large way, limestone and fluorite are used as fluxes. In the smelting of iron the flux must be such that it will combine with the earthy matter of the ore, and form a slag, which must neither be too refractory nor fusible. The fluxes made use of in assays or chemical experiments consist usually of alkalies and alkaline salts, as borax, potassium cyanide, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, common salt, which render the earthy mixtures fusible by converting them into glass. The fluxes used in pottery are various, but almost all consist of litharge or red-lead, borax, carbonates of potassium and sodium, and sand. In soldering, a flux is a substance used to keep the surfaces which have to be soldered together clean, by reducing any oxides which may form to the metallic state. Research Flux
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
SciTech
Research Flux
