what is the importance of a halogen-free printed circuit board?
DESCRIPTION
During the development of printed circuit boards, there are many compounds and elements that are utilized for a variety of purposes. During the early days of PCB development, many toxic compounds were used as either a cost-saving aspect of manufacturing or because of the specific, helpful nature of the element.TRANSCRIPT
What is the Importance of a
Halogen-free Printed Circuit
Board?
During the development of printed circuit boards, there are
many compounds and elements that are utilized for a
variety of purposes. During the early days of PCB
development, many toxic compounds were used as either a
cost-saving aspect of manufacturing or because of the
specific, helpful nature of the element. As humanity
develops an increased understanding of the threats that past
materials present to life in today’s world, manufacturers
are changing methods and finding new materials that don’t
pose a threat to individuals working with such creations.
Common compounds that are used in PCB developments
belong to the family of Halogen elements. Although the
composition themselves provide certain benefits to the
development of electronics, they are harmful to human life
in one way or another.
During the development of printed circuit boards, there are
many compounds and elements that are utilized for a
variety of purposes. During the early days of PCB
development, many toxic compounds were used as either a
cost-saving aspect of manufacturing or because of the
specific, helpful nature of the element. As humanity
develops an increased understanding of the threats that past
materials present to life in today’s world, manufacturers
are changing methods and finding new materials that don’t
pose a threat to individuals working with such creations.
These elements are:
- Fluorine
- Chlorine
- Bromine
- Iodine
- Astatine
While there is still debate on the toxicity of halogens
within PCB development, there are two primary elements
that constitute the general consensus of a halogen-free
circuit board. These two are chlorine and bromine. Each
provides a specific benefit to the overall safety and
functionality of electronics but pose a threat to the
continuity of life for humans and nature.
Functionality of Chlorine
The element chlorine is used in a wide array of products. It
is a prime ingredient used in bleaches for cleaning as well
as sterilizing pools to kill off bacteria. In small and diluted
doses, this element can help in the protection of life from
illnesses developed by virus and bacterial strains.
However, dangerous concentrations of chlorine can pose
certain health risks.
Some of the symptoms of chlorine exposure include:
- Blurred vision
- Uncontrollable coughing
- Severe skin irritations and pain
- Nausea- Difficulty breathing
- Burning sensation in nose, throat and the eyes
Continued exposure to chlorine can cause severe
complications such as pulmonary edema, or consistent
fluid in the lungs. According to a study published in a
previous edition of Pediatrics, children are eight times
more likely to develop asthma while swimming in Chlorine
treated pools as opposed to not. The effects of chlorine
including the disposal and destruction of related products
are prompting the Restriction of Hazardous Substances
directive to consider placing chlorine on the list for
electronic compliance. Not only is it a threat to human life,
but it is a toxic element that can cause severe damage to an
eco-system.
How is Chlorine Used in Electronics?
Generally, there are many uses for chlorine-based
components when developing electronics. Although the
element was initially an effective tool for development, the
threat it poses can be difficult to bypass.
Some of the uses of this material include:
- Polyvinyl Chloride coatings for cables and wires
- Chlorinated flame retardants to protect components and
devices
- Trichloroethylene solvents used in semiconductor
development
- Trichloroethane solvents to clean computer chips
Functionality of Bromine
Although bromine doesn’t have the notoriety and
popularity with household products as its companion, it is
still used in a variety of ways that many people may not
consider. It, too, is used in water treatment for swimming
pools and hot tubs as well as controlling bacterial growth
and algae within industrial processes. It is used in the
agricultural industry as a pesticide. Bromine is also being
tested for use in batteries for electric vehicles.
Coincidentally, bromine is also a component of many
pharmaceuticals in the health industry.
However, high concentrations of bromine can cause:
- Nausea
- Watery eyes
- Skin irritations and burns
- Headaches and dizziness
Sustained exposure to bromine can cause brain damage as
well as kidney failure due to systemic poisoning. The
blood pressure of an individual could drop to intolerable
levels for internal organs, assisting in overall physical
dysfunction. For those that continuously breathe in
bromine, there is an increased chance of long-term lung
problems of varying degrees.
How is Bromine Used in Electronics?
Currently, many brominated compounds are restricted by
the RoHS directive. Primarily, these chemical
compositions serve to act as flame retardants generally
used in plastics for the chassis of electronic devices as well
as on the PCB itself. Although it serves the purpose of
protecting against further damage from the onset of a fire,
it’s still a dangerous component to work with especially
when inhaled as fumes from a melting plastic chassis.
According to PCI-SIG, the special interest group
responsible for universally specifying Peripheral
Component Interconnect buses for computer systems, the
printed circuit motherboard constitutes the largest
contribution of weight from halogen materials. In light of
the weight distribution of this component, it is imperative
for IT support staff to consider safe methods for disposing
of upgraded motherboards in computer systems.
Environmental Impact of Chlorine and Bromine
The importance of halogen-free components can be viewed
as an effect of the aftermath from disposal of various
electronics. While merely handling a PCB will more than
likely not affect an individual, it is the incineration and
destruction of components that pose the more serious
threat. Dioxin is a compound that forms when chlorine-
based components are brunt with the addition of
hydrocarbons. According to the United States
Environmental Protection Agency, dioxin is one of the
most toxic chemicals currently known to exist.
Dioxin has been confirmed by the EPA to cause cancer
within humans. This means that incineration of PCBs
developed with chlorine-based products has a strong
likelihood to cause fatal injuries to individuals simply
breathing in the fumes produced. In January of 2001,
dioxin was upgraded to be a known human carcinogen. A
couple of years later, it was determined that there is no
known tolerance level or safe dosage that will not
ultimately cause cancer. A study completed in 2012 has
reassessed the dangers of dioxin which have been found to
be within the tissues of animals that humans consume.
The toxicity that is created from improper disposal could
put individuals and eco-systems in great jeopardy. Precious
metals aside, choosing a halogen-free product can keep
your developers and future technicians safer from
experiencing health complications due to exposure. Show
your responsibility to the environment and prevent these
toxic compounds from interacting with nature in a negative
way.
PCB Solutions provides high-quality printed circuit boards
to meet a variety of needs in the dynamic electronics
industry. We are a PCB manufacturer that support domestic
and off-shore prototyping to provide low, medium and high
volume production. If you are looking for a flexible PCB
manufacturer, PCB solutions is the right option.