Polyimide, Kapton® and Circuit Board Label Materials

What Does "Lead Free" Mean?

RoHS, REACH, WEEE... What Does It All Mean?

The use of lead and other hazardous materials has gained attention in the electrical electronic equipment world. Two mandatory directives exist today: Restriction of Hazard Substances (RoHS) and Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). July 1, 2006 was the slated deadline for compliance.

When first exposed to the term "Lead-free labels" the common misconception is that the labels themselves do not contain lead. In actuality, the labels never have contained lead. Wat we really mean is the labels have been designed to withstand the lead-free solder processes for RoHS compliance.

As things are moving toward the used of lead-free solders, two distinct process changes are brought into focus: Lead-free solder alloys require higher processing temperatures then a traditional tin-based alloys.

The new solder compositions will form new contaminants and oxides. This means new chemical cleaning compositions may be required. Attention needs to be given to the most sensitive components on the electronic assemblies as thermal demands increase. Often overlooked- labels are a critical component to the manufacturing process. Polyonics recommends the current label and ribbon combination be tested under the new process conditions to be sure they can survive the higher temperatures and new chemicals when/where they are introduced.

Polyonics has developed a "lead free" series of labels designed to withstand the processes changes that come with transitioning from the traditional solders to the new lead-free ones.

Manufacturers may not want to transition all of their pcb production lines to RoHS compliance all at once. During this transition phase, most manufacturers will run lead-free process in parallel with standard processes, and will want to easily and clearly identify products from each process. Polyonics has developed a line of colored polyimides which will survive both standard and lead-free processes. They you can tell at a glance by these color coded labels which assemblies are RoHS compliant and which are not.

	What Does "Lead Free" Mean? RoHS, REACH, WEEE... What Does It All Mean? The use of lead and other hazardous materials has gained attention in the electrical electronic equipment world. Two mandatory directives exist today: Restriction of Hazard Substances (RoHS) and Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). July 1, 2006 was the slated deadline for compliance. When first exposed to the term "Lead-free labels" the common misconception is that the labels themselves do not contain lead. In actuality, the labels never have contained lead. Wat we really mean is the labels have been designed to withstand the lead-free solder processes for RoHS compliance. As things are moving toward the used of lead-free solders, two distinct process changes are brought into focus: Lead-free solder alloys require higher processing temperatures then a traditional tin-based alloys. The new solder compositions will form new contaminants and oxides. This means new chemical cleaning compositions may be required. Attention needs to be given to the most sensitive components on the electronic assemblies as thermal demands increase. Often overlooked- labels are a critical component to the manufacturing process. Polyonics recommends the current label and ribbon combination be tested under the new process conditions to be sure they can survive the higher temperatures and new chemicals when/where they are introduced. Polyonics has developed a "lead free" series of labels designed to withstand the processes changes that come with transitioning from the traditional solders to the new lead-free ones. Manufacturers may not want to transition all of their pcb production lines to RoHS compliance all at once. During this transition phase, most manufacturers will run lead-free process in parallel with standard processes, and will want to easily and clearly identify products from each process. Polyonics has developed a line of colored polyimides which will survive both standard and lead-free processes. They you can tell at a glance by these color coded labels which assemblies are RoHS compliant and which are not.
Polyonics, Inc. 867 Rte. 12 Westmoreland, NH 03467-4740 Tel: 603.352.1415 Fax: 603.352.1936 Email: info@polyonics.com