Lead free technology refers to the use of lead-free solder for soldering during PCBA processing, replacing traditional lead containing solder. This change is mainly driven by environmental regulations, especially the implementation of the EU RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive, which explicitly requires that the content of harmful substances such as lead in electronic products must be below a specific threshold.
1. Selection of lead-free soldering materials
The core of lead-free technology lies in the selection of solder. The commonly used lead-free solder materials on the market currently include Sn Ag Cu alloy, Sn Ag Bi alloy, etc. These solder materials have similar welding performance to traditional lead containing solder materials, while significantly reducing their harm to the environment and human health. In PCBA processing, these lead-free solder materials are widely used in the soldering process of SMT patches and DIP inserts.
2. Strict process control and quality management
The implementation of lead-free technology relies on strict process control and quality management. Compared with lead based processes, lead-free solder has a higher melting point, requiring higher heating temperatures. This requires precise control of key parameters such as temperature, time, and pressure during the soldering process. At the same time, to ensure the stability and reliability of the welding connection, multiple quality inspections such as AOI (Automatic Optical Inspection) and X-ray testing are also required.
3. Selection of electronic components and materials
Under lead-free technology, the selection of electronic components and materials is equally important. All components used for PCBA processing, such as resistors, capacitors, connectors, ICs, etc., must strictly comply with the requirements of the RoHS directive to ensure that they do not contain harmful substances. This strict control over material selection not only helps to improve the environmental performance of products, but also ensures the quality and safety of electronic products.
4. Widely applicable fields
Lead free technology has been widely used in the manufacturing of consumer electronics products such as mobile phones, tablets, and televisions. These products have increasingly high requirements for environmental protection and safety, and lead-free technology perfectly meets these needs. Meanwhile, lead-free technology also holds significant importance in the fields of automotive electronics and medical device manufacturing. Automotive electronic products require extremely high reliability, and lead-free technology can effectively improve the stability and durability of solder connections; Medical devices have strict standards for product safety, and the application of lead-free technology further ensures the safety of patient use.
