Uncreative Labs

Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 594 Location: Western NC

Although this doesn't concern "obsolete" anything, thought it might be of use to those working with virtually anything electronic.

Having worked in the contract PWB-manufacturing business for over 11 years now, I'd like to think I've become fairly familiar with the trends. For those that don't keep up with such (most of you, I'm sure), the European Union begins enforcing the RoHS directive this weekend (July 1st). For those unfamiliar with it try here. While it sounds all wonderful and great (ridding the world of hazardous chemicals is never a bad thing) there are several issues not being mentioned. Just getting ready for it has been nearly a nightmare for my company...

Here's a very good site to get the other side of the story:

http://rohsusa.com/

Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 261 Location: WisConSin

That is pretty dumb, especially considering lead is actually one of the least harzardous of the so called harzardous materials. If you check the fatal reaction requirements lead is actually less harzardous than floride (a drinking water additive)

LOL

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 4:02 am

I'm going to prepare by buying a large quantity of leaded solder. One person on sci.electronics.repair asked how to tell the difference between lead-free and leaded solder. The answer was the leaded solder device still works after a year.

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 6:25 am

ryan wrote:

That is pretty dumb, especially considering lead is actually one of the least harzardous of the so called harzardous materials. If you check the fatal reaction requirements lead is actually less harzardous than floride (a drinking water additive)

LOL

On the other hand, car lead battery factories in the US does not let pregnant women work in their factories as there is a high risk for "damaged" babies.
So to go just by fatal reaction is not giving a proper picture of leads toxidity.

And it is very fatal if it enters a body in high speed Wink

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 6:25 pm

What you have there is a much higher exposure to lead than what the normal person would see using any kind of electronics. In fact, if you see the lead in the electronics the casing has either been removed or broken.

Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 594 Location: Western NC

In addition to the extra contaminants which are generated with lead-free solder, there's also the reliability factors that haven't even been mentioned. Good old generic tin/lead solder has a melting point of 183 degrees C, (361° F), and the standard surface mount reflow temperatures expose most items to around 215° C for 40-60 seconds. When non-leaded alloys are involved, it forces melting point to 217° C (422° F) and most profiles are 240°C (464° F) for an exposure time of around 50-70 seconds. Needless to say that it takes components designed to withstand higher temperatures to survive the increased thermal stress (read: more expensive).

Want to open up another can of worms, just Google the phrase "tin-whiskers"...

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:00 pm

We also have all the lead bullits and pellets laying around in the nature from hunting.

Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 488 Location: pennsylvanai

on www.photo.net a while ago the new euro rege mentioned that hassleblad ( a high eng swedish camera maker) was stopping production because of the lead and pcb problems.
when i was at HP in nj, the power supply division had stopped making pcb and later transformers because NJ was unfriendly to " c h e m i c a l s"
the building is now run by a off the wall church
and a off the wall minister.
hp is GONE and so are all the jobs!

these all can be controlled/regulated
but the "illegal natural substances"
that folks snort and inject cannot seem to be controlled!!
it's like the cops stopping speeders ( safe)
and ignoiring hold up men and drug dealers
( they might get shot)