My original post diverged into a couple of different directions. Here are my observations and comments. Halogen-free flame-retardant (HFFR) materials are available (at least for evaluation purposes). We've looked at a couple and are still looking for the "right" material. My problem is trying to find a material that matches a "No-flow" FR4 prepreg. I've not found one. I'm pretty certain Isola A11 is not halogen-free. These systems can rely on various mechanisms to provide flame resistance. One of the best papers I've seen on this is "High Tg Bromine Free Laminates for PWB Applcations" by Marty Choate from IPC Expo in 2001. It is available in the Technical Paper section of Isola's website. He explains how bromine and the new alternatives work. https://www.isola-usa.com/isolaus.nsf/main?OpenFrameset Phosphorous is one of the compounds that is used, though it seems it's fallen out of favor. Some of the newer HFFR materials emphasize that they are "phosphorous free". I hope Geoff's comments on the "exclusion" of TBBA are true. I'll have to look into it. Mike McMaster RF Product Engineer Merix Corporation 503-992-4263 > ---------- > From: Geoff Layhe[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Reply To: TechNet E-Mail Forum.;Geoff Layhe > Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2003 2:38 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: [TN] Halogen-free No-flow Materials > > Daan, > The flame retardant used in Fr4 is (usually) tetra bromo bisphenol A > (TBBA) > this is different from poly-brominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated > diphenyl ethers (PBDE). > There is more information at http://www.ebfrip.org/publications.html. > > Geoff Layhe > > -----Original Message----- > From: d. terstegge [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: 16 April 2003 09:46 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: [TN] Halogen-free No-flow Materials > > > Excerpt from the directive 2002/95/EC: > "Member States shall ensure that,from 1 July 2006,new electrical and > electronic equipment put on the market does not contain > lead,mercury,cadmium,hexavalent chromium,poly-brominated biphenyls > (PBB)or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)." > Are these different materials than in the "standard" FR4 ? > > Daan Terstegge > Thales Communications > Unclassified mail > Personal Website: http://www.smtinfo.net > > >>> [log in to unmask] 04/16/03 10:32am >>> > Don't know whether it is halogen, free but check out Isola's A11 No > Flo > pre-preg. > It's listed as a general purpose epoxy with a UL flammability rating of > HB > so it is not an FR4. > > By the way as far as I understand the situation the bromine flame > retardant > used in "standard" FR4 (TBBA) is not on the European list of banned > substances. > > Geoff Layhe > > -----Original Message----- > From: Mcmaster, Michael [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: 15 April 2003 20:24 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: [TN] Halogen-free No-flow Materials > > > > I'm hoping that there are at least a few laminate manufacturers among > the > 800 or so remaining subscribers. > > I'm looking for a no- or controlled-flow prepreg that will qualify as > halogen-free. Preferably FR4-type but I'll consider other materials. > If > anyone has any recommendations I'd like to hear about it. Feel free > to > contact me off-line if you're a material supplier and fear > recriminations > for being too capitalistic ;-). > > Mike McMaster > RF Product Engineer > Merix Corporation > 503-992-4263 > > > > --------------------------------------------------- > Technet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV > 1.8e > To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text > in > the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet > To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to > [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) > To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to > [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest > Search the archives of previous posts at: > http://listserv.ipc.org/archives > Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm for > additional > information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or > 847-509-9700 > ext.5315 > ----------------------------------------------------- > > > > > Private & Confidential: > This e-mail message is confidential and is intended solely for the > person or > organisation to whom it is addressed. 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