| Yes what a question! But like it or not, planned European legislation may have
banned the use of lead (that soft, weighty metal) from all manufactured goods
by January 2006 or 2007 at the latest.
That
means not only will the soldered joints in circuits have to be lead free, but
also all the joints inside the components themselves, and on their connections.
Therefore, lead free components are now being manufactured for use in future
equipments.
The
lead content in the solder increases its melting point, lead melts at 327°C. So
removing it will lower the solder’s melting point to that of say tin, which is
232°C.
So
higher temperature solders will now likely be of a tin-silver-copper alloy,
which is of course more expensive.
For
many years plumbing joints have been supplied with lead free solders.
The
whole exercise is related to the future programme of recycling as many
materials as possible from discarded equipment of all types.
So
will there be a great future in “skip diving” at rallies etc and doing your bit
of recycling for the environment?
For
more information see:- http://www.lead-free.org
Also worthy of note in this context are:-
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