Due to the rise of the electronics industry in the 21st century, the electronic pcb and component manufacturing industries are developing rapidly. Traditional lead pollution has become increasingly serious and become a major public hazard affecting people’s health. Lead and lead compounds are extremely harmful to humans and animals as well as to environmental pollution. Therefore, Chinese pcb manufacturers should implement comprehensive lead-free electronics manufacturing, which is to reduce environmental pollution and enhance the competitiveness of green manufacturing.
Solder has the following effects in the process of electronic interconnection:as connecting material between electronic components and circuit boards; as coating for component leads; as surface coating on PCB. Lead-containing solders (mainly Sn37Pb63 and Sn40Pb60) have suitable melting temperature, high toughness and thermal fatigue resistance, electrical and thermal conductivity can meet the requirements, and low cost, which is very suitable for a wide range of applications in the electronics industry, so it has always been dominant in the pcb manufacturing industry.
Nowadays, as people’s awareness of environmental protection increases, the problem of lead pollution is gradually mentioned on the agenda. Generally, metal lead first interacts with acidic substances, converts it into ion lead, penetrates into groundwater, then enters the human body, and gradually deposits into bones and internal organs, thereby causing harm to the human body.
The lead-containing electronic products are mainly harmful to the human body and the environment in the following aspects.
For fetuses or children in development, lead poisoning will seriously damage their intelligence and nervous system; lead has a damaging effect on the kidney and is carcinogenic; for mammals and birds, lead to some organ tissues, such as the blood system, the central nervous system, kidney, reproductive system, and immune system have toxic side effects; for aquatic animals, the main side effects of lead are deformity of the spine and blackening of the tail.
At the same time, with the rapid development of high technology, the cycle of electronic pcba product replacement is getting shorter and shorter, and e-waste is growing at an annual rate of 18%. According to a foreign organization report that focuses on computer waste, the display tube of each display contains 4-81 pounds of lead, and the circuit board also contains a large amount of lead. If the used computer is discarded into the wilderness or landfill, these heavy metals will severely polluted groundwater. When people drink groundwater or eat contaminated plants and animals, lead accumulates in the human body and causes lead poisoning.
Therefore, the lead-free electronic products have attracted more and more attention. China is a big country in the production and export of electronic products. If China is not fully prepared, once the relevant countries strengthen the legislation on lead restrictions, which will pose a great threat to the entry of China’s electronic products into the international market.
