RoHS VS PB
FREE
By Kelvin Tan
What is RoHS? What is RoHS 2.0? What is RoHS
3.0?
Directive 2011/65/EU was published in 2011 by the EU, which is known as
RoHS-Recast or RoHS 2. RoHS 2 includes a CE-marking directive, with RoHS
compliance now being required for CE marking of products. RoHS 2 also added
Categories 8 and 9, and has additional compliance recordkeeping
requirements.
Directive 2015/863 is known as RoHS 3. RoHS 3 adds four
additional restricted substances (phthalates) to the list of six.
As now
China's test lab does not have RoHS 3.0 test standard. So Topdiode and UF
Capacitors only declare our products are RoHS 2.0 Compliant. We will update our
certification according to latest regulations.
RoHS
Compliant for 2022
Any business that sells applicable
electrical or electronic products, equipment, sub-assemblies, cables,
components, or spare parts directly to RoHS-directed countries, or sells to
resellers, distributors or integrators that in turn sell products to these
countries, is impacted if they utilize any of the restricted 10
substances.
With the rapid spread of digitization, the world's production
of electrical and electronic devices is exploding. Besides mobile devices, think
about the coming wave of IoT, smart home assistants, robots, drones, 3D
printers, and home medical devices to all corners of the planet...they are all
regulated under RoHS.
EU RoHS specifies maximum levels for the following 10
restricted substances. The first six applied to the original RoHS while the last
four were added under RoHS 3, which took effect July 22, 2019.
Cadmium
(Cd): < 100 ppm
Lead (Pb): < 1000 ppm
Mercury (Hg): < 1000
ppm
Hexavalent Chromium: (Cr VI) < 1000 ppm
Polybrominated
Biphenyls (PBB): < 1000 ppm
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE): <
1000 ppm
Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP): < 1000 ppm
Benzyl
butyl phthalate (BBP): < 1000 ppm
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP): < 1000
ppm
Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP): < 1000 ppm
About Lead-Free and RoHS
In practice, RoHS-compliant
is often equated with “lead-free”. However, this is a widespread mistake. The
RoHS directive 2002/95/EC aims to minimize the use of hazardous substances
(including, among others, lead), but it does not completely exclude a small
percentage. One of the great obstacles in implementing the directive was the
switchover to lead-free solder, because the limit values (0.1 per cent by weight
of the inseparable components) do not admit a lead solder. This is probably the
most important reason for the mix-up/equating that comes up again and
again.
Due to environmental concerns, the need for lead-free solutions in
electronic components and systems is receiving increasing attention within the
semiconductor and electronics industries.
In a word, Lead Free and Pb Free
is the same thing. Due to worldwide environmental restricted chemical and
material (RCM) concerns, it was determined lead (Pb) as one of the major
substances of concerns. Lead-free devices in electronic components and systems
continues to receive significant attention within the semiconductor and
electronics industry as a whole.
Lead Free and Pb Free mean "No PB
Process". PB Free and Lead-Free electronics components are definitely RoHS
Compliant. But RoHS Compliant did not mean Pb Free of Lead Free.
RoHS
Compliant means lead <1000 PPM, and also accept exemption sometimes.
Ps:
Green products mean stricter: Lead (Pb): < 90 ppm
Topdiode & UF
Capacitors’ all components are RoHS Compliant. But not all our electronic
components are PB Free or Lead-Free. If you require Lead-Free, pls check case by
case.
