New American “halogen-free” projects
In the USA, the word "sustainability" may still evoke fuzzy
stereotypes of do-gooders putting ideals ahead of reality. However, the
growing influence of watchdog groups making clever use of the internet,
new environmental regulations with additional, stringent restrictions
coming from Europe and spreading over to Asia, create a new perception
of sustainability, health and the environment in American companies,
associations, authorities, and last but not least, the public opinion.
This also concerns the use of flame retardants.To get more news about
Halogen Free PCB, you can visit pcbmake official website.
The development of "halogen-free" systems for office and consumer
electronics started in Europe and has now reached the USA: Projects from
electronics manufacturers and suppliers, as well as from the US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) focus on printed wiring boards
(PWBs).
The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative iNEMI, an
industry-led consortium of approximately 70 electronics manufacturers,
suppliers and related organizations, started a Halogen-Free Project last
year. The objective is to promote standards development by establishing
materials, manufacturing, assembly, and test guidelines for
"halogen-free" PWBs based on market segment requirements and technical,
commercial, and functional viability. The project results are expected
in 2008.
The High Density Packaging User Group International HDPUG is an
American non profit trade organization involved in the supply chain of
products using high density electronic packages. HDPUG has just started
(January 2007) a new Halogen-Free Properties Project: The Design for the
Environment (DfE) Program of the EPA works in partnership with a broad
range of stakeholders to reduce the risk to people and the environment
by preventing pollution. Under the title "Safer Flame Retardants", one
DfE project Printed Circuit Board Flame Retardancy Partnership was
started in order to improve our knowledge of the environmental, health
and safety aspects of commercially available flame retardants that can
be used to meet fire safety requirements for the majority of printed
circuit boards. Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is the largest-volume
brominated flame retardant with an annual production of approximately
150 000 tonnes, and is the primary flame retardant for printed circuit
boards. Alternative flame retardant materials are becoming available for
use in PWBs.
