A number of posters have raised questions about WHY the world wants to go
lead-free. Many companies may be motivated by "green marketing" or social
responsibility concerns. But the real problem is that the EU is in the midst of
passing legislation that will ban the sale after January 1, 2007 of any
electronic or electrical product that contains lead. Markets will have to
support the higher costs associated with Pb-free products because they have no
choice.

Charles F. Dolci
Director, Environment, Health & Safety


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*From: Lawrence J Dungan <[log in to unmask]>
*Subject: [LF] Conversion of High Risk devices to Pf-free
*X-To: [log in to unmask]
*To: [log in to unmask]
*
*Lee provides some interesting points upon which to ponder.
*
*Of course, reliability and quality issues provide the main basis for the
*proposed exemptions on selected products--Automotive, Avionics, Servers,
*Telecom Equipment, Medical Devices, etc.
*
*One may reasonably expect many quality issues to proliferate during the
*conversion of consumer goods to lead-free.
*There is quite a lack of experience with Pb-free solders and the new
*component materials needed to withstand higher reflow temperatures, etc.
*There can be a huge difference in results between by the failure of a
*mini-DVD music player and failures in avionics or medical devices.
*
*It makes sense to let the consumer industry handle the high development
*costs associated with developing these new processes, qualifying the new
*materials, training, etc. and develop quality/reliability data before
*critical components convert.
*
*Some product lines are very expensive and it is unlikely that the product
*line will be able to switch back and forth between no-Pb and Pb production.
*Therefore, as Lee notes, once these suppliers convert a product or process
*to Pb-free, the Pb production will no longer be available.
*
*The question remains whether markets will support higher costs associated
*with Pb-free products.
*
*

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