In the Assembly Processing group working on the Lead-Free Solder Roadmap at
the IPC meeting, the highest priority item from the group was to ensure
that the new alloys are viable in the long term from a toxicology and
environmental life cycle point of view.  Having to change alloys again in
three years would be a waste of resources if we can formulate a proper
solution now.

At 07:06 PM 11/02/1999 -0800, you wrote:
>All,
>
>As I read the debates ongoing, it strikes me that there are 2 major focus
>areas right now:
>
>1) Technical solutions to Pb-free solders
>2) Is the decision environmentally correct?
>
>Are we missing a 3rd item?
>
>Regardless of what solder we end up with, how does the industry position a
>long term, environmentally sound policy that will forestall future green
>initiatives from causing such upsets?
>
>The history of Pb is rife with abuses -- Workers not following safe
>practices, employers not requiring or implementing safe practices, emission
>controls not being in place on smelters, ....  This is in addition to Pb
>being used without a full understanding of the toxicology and exposure risks
>(Paint, gasoline, plumbing  The point is, past uses (and abuses) and
>handling of Pb has created the situation we are in now.
>
>I have not seen/heard any discussion on establishing practices and protocols
>that will foster responsible use of any solder -- Both safe working
>practices on the production end, and End of Life management. Should this be
>part of the overall strategy, or a recommended best known method?  How does
>this link into product takeback requirements that are gaining popularity in
>the EU and Japan?
>
>Regards,
>Paul Wermer
>(Whose opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of his
>employer)
>
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**************************************
Carol A. Handwerker
Chief, Metallurgy Division
NIST
100 Bureau Drive Stop 8550
Gaithersburg MD 20899-8550
Office:(301) 975-6158
Fax:(301) 975-4553
e-mail:[log in to unmask]

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To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask]
with following text in the body:
To subscribe:   SUBSCRIBE Leadfree <your full name>
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################################################################
IPCWorks -October 25-28 featuring an International Summit on Lead-Free Electronic
Assemblies.
Please visit IPC's Center for Lead-Free Electronics Assembly
(http://www.leadfree.org ) for additional information.
For technical support contact Gayatri Sardeshpande [log in to unmask] or 847-790-5365.
################################################################