Details on exemptions, details on whisker risk

Two recent reports offer detailed information on two areas of RoHS regulations. The first is the report from the Oko Institute, a group that offers technical consultation to the European Union. The 148-page report details the winners, losers and draws in formal requests for exemptions for RoHS regulations. In total, 88 requests for exemption were evaluated. 27 were recommended to be granted, 37 were recommended to be refused, and 17 were withdrawn by the applicant. Six more were tossed out for lack to time for evaluation or inapplicability.

In another interesting report, the Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering (CALCE), released a report entitled “Assessing the Risk Posed by Tin Whiskers,” which was presented at the SMTA Capitol Vendor Show earlier this month. The report offers details on the risks of using pure tin as an alternative to leaded solder and coatings. As part of the report, CALCE surveyed component suppliers and found that nearly two thirds of lead-free component suppliers use pure tin solders and coatings rather than tin in combination with other alloys such as nickel. Pure tin is known to have greater risk of producing whiskers than tin in combination with other metals.

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