Labeling

Global standardisation of soldering materials is not to be expected within the next years. This was learnt during the discussions with the inter-regional partners. A variety of materials will thus substitute tin-lead. Repairs require solders that are compatible with the soldering materials on the board. In recycling, lead-free solders and platings on PWBs enable material specific treatment to increase profit and material recovery. An information labelling system (ILS) about soldering materials can solve these problems. It should at least store information about soldering materials used in manufacturing of the PWB. Stored information to differentiate appliances categories and features characterised in the WEEE contributes to implementation of WEEE, e. g. to decide between old appliances and old-old appliances that are subject to different treatment rules. The tool can also give feedback from repair and recycling about failures of certain soldering material combinations. Thus, an ILS facilitates statistic reliability investigations for manufacturers, or gives information about thermal stress which influences remaining life time of components for reuse.

Examples for lead-free labeling: