Ron,
The sky isn't falling, it just has a big hole in it :^)
Many people point to batteries as the key culprit for lead. Yet in
virtually everything that contains a battery, there are also electronic
components, and usually more than one of them. And many electronics are
plug-ins and don't run on batteries.
Has anyone stopped to figure out just how much lead we do use on electronic
packaging (solder dip and plate) and on PCBs? It would be easy to calculate
if one knew the typical weight of Pb in a typical solder joint combined with
the plating on its component lead. Multiply that by the "X" billions of
components made for each package style each year, then by the number of
leads. I could go searching for this info, but I figure one of you out
there may already know the answer of the top of your head. I keep hearing
this 1-2% number tossed about...I'd like to know what the real quantity is
in actual weight of lead!!
1 billion parts times 50 leads (average) = 50 billion solder joints. If
each of those joints contains 1/100 ounce of lead, that's still over 31
million pounds. Now again, I don't know what the actual weight per joint
is, but I have to believe the grand total is significant.
Thanks,
Bob
-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Gedney [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 7:05 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [LF] Lead Usage in Electronics
Paul,
I have to agree with your comments.... In the end, we would all like
to
do the right thing for the environment, but I have a big concern
with
the "sky is falling" attitude that we get from the environmental
movement. Would be nice to have some science applied that says
definitively we do or do not have a problem. We have seen a lot of
examples where the wrong problem is attacked with little regard for
the
consequences. In this case, yes, lead can be a problem. Is lead-tin
solder in electronics a real problem? Does the small amount of lead
used
(I have seen numbers less than 1% of world usage) justify the
expense
and risk we are going to take? I have a lot of doubts.
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Baber [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 6:29 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [LF] Lead Usage in Electronics
The reason industries wait until forced to make the changes is
simple...economics. R & D is expensive, especially when being used
to
replace a material which is fundamentally functioning as required,
and
most
likely cost efficient.
At what point does the cost become too great? Will consumers rush
out
to
buy the new lead free price increased products? Or don't you
appreciate
the
lower prices on your VCR and home computers? If a gold adhesive
material
were employed, home appliances would be out of reach of most lower
income
families.
The government is quick to jump on a hot topic in hopes of
collecting a
few
stray votes. Seldom are any of the agencies quick to assist in the
development of replacement products. When assistance is offered, it
is
always a referral to an industry who has the resources for R & D,
not a
governmental body.
And is this going to be any more beneficial to the environment than
the
Montreal Protocol? Natural events are much more to blame for
atmospheric
pollution than industry, but who do you cite when a volcano blows,
or
lightning ignites another forest fire? If I remember correctly,
requiring
storm water permitting for industries was also catching the lower
end of
the
pollution problem. Private lawns and farm lands were the greatest
source,
but once again, economics comes into play. Industry can pay, the
farmer
can't.
I am unable to quote exact figures, but it is my understanding the
electronics industry is only a tiny part of the user.
Please don't misunderstand my response, I do believe the
improvements we
have seen would not have come about without industry being forced
into
change. No one likes change, so resistance will always be the first
response.
My wish is the agencies or groups making these requirements are
forced
to
play an economically equal role in the development of the
replacements.
Not
just set a date and demand it be met.
Now it's more of the king standing on high and saying it is so
because I
say
it is so.
Paul B.
NTCB
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Please visit IPC's Center for Lead-Free Electronics Assembly
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For technical support contact Gayatri Sardeshpande [log in to unmask] or
847-790-5365.
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with following text in the body:
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IPCWorks -October 25-28 featuring an International Summit on Lead-Free Electronic
Assemblies.
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(http://www.leadfree.org ) for additional information.
For technical support contact Gayatri Sardeshpande [log in to unmask] or 847-790-5365.
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