Environmental Conservation Through Lead-Free Electronics Manufacturing

Abstract

This paper discusses a research project to reduce and subsequently eliminate environmentally hazardous materials at a particular electronics manufacturer. In working with this industrial partner (a manufacturer of substrates and printed circuit board assemblies), the goal was to find a suitable lead-free alternative to the present SnPb alloy and also identify alternative lead free components. This strategy can serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives across the electronics manufacturing service (or EMS) provider spectrum. The evaluation and selection of a solder paste is extremely important and literature is replete with articles that address the critical nature of solder paste and its affect on yield and solder joint reliability