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Substitution of Hazardous Chemicals in Products and Processes
Working Group 3
Printed Circuit Boards
Introduction by: J. Lohse, Ökopol
Conference on Substitution
Kooperationsstelle
Hamburg
Hamburg, 13-14 June 2002
Substitution of Hazardous Chemicals in Products and Processes
Some Characteristics of Printed Circuit Boards:
• Integral part of all electronic devices (IT, consumer goods,
automotive etc.).
• High-volume market, significant growth rates.
• The dominating material is FR4 (glass-fibre reinforced epoxide).
• UL-94 norm commonly applied defines classes V0, V1 related to
resistance to flammability.
• Substances most commonly applied to achieve flame resistance
are brominated organic chemicals.
Kooperationsstelle
Hamburg
Substitution of Hazardous Chemicals in Products and Processes
Concerns about brominated flame retardants (BFR)
• Toxic and suspected CMR properties of many BFR substances
• Low biodegradability and/or formation of toxic metabolites
• Diffuse losses from products in use
• Ubiquitous occurrence in urban environment and remote areas
• Found in human blood (exposed workers)
• Found in human breast-milk (general population)
• PXDD/F formation upon accidental fire
• PXDD/F formation upon thermal stress during recycling
Kooperationsstelle
Hamburg
Substitution of Hazardous Chemicals in Products and Processes
Initiatives at the political level
• Voluntary phase-out of some BFR by German chemical industry
(after their behaviour as dioxin precursors was discovered)
• Draft ROHS Directive requires substitution of PBB / PBDE
• EU Risk Assessment on TBBA (ongoing)
• Draft WEEE Directive requires dismantling of BFR-components
• Legislative initiatives (e.g. in Germany and Denmark)
• Eco-labelling criteria (EU flower, national & private labels)
restrict the use of some or even all BFR.
• Pressure from environmental NGOs.
Kooperationsstelle
Hamburg
Substitution of Hazardous Chemicals in Products and Processes
Initiatives at enterprise level (individual companies)
• Circuit board manufacturer: disposal problem for production waste
initiated search for substitutes
• E&E manufacturer: early internal ban of PBB and PBDE - working
towards total BFR phase-out to fulfill eco-label criteria
• Car manufacturer: early internal ban of PBB and PBDE - working
towards halogen-free materials in general where possible
• Base-material supplier: offers halogen-free FR4 material and
seeks first mover advantage
• Market pressure from several Asian manufacturers
• [parallel efforts in Asia and US to phase out Pb solder]
Kooperationsstelle
Hamburg
Substitution of Hazardous Chemicals in Products and Processes
Substitution strategies
• polymerized TBBA (reduces some but does not avoid all risks)
• Phosphorus-based FR (shielding effect by solid-base reaction)
• Mineral-based FR (ATH and similar - dilution & cooling effect)
• Change of base material (e.g. foams, polysiloxane etc.)
• Geometric separation of high and low voltage components
• Reduce operating voltage.
Kooperationsstelle
Hamburg
Substance --> material --> product level
• Use of TBBA instead of PBB / PBDE
Substitution of Hazardous Chemicals in Products and Processes
Use of P-based FR instead of TBBA - arguments and questions:
Economics
• Additional cost of material ?!
• Investments in process necessary ?
• Dependance on single supplier ?!
Technical functionality
• Functional equivalence of substitute ? (safety standards, market requirements)
Communication / awareness
• Necessity to involve all actors in the chain !
• Ecotox-profile as strong driver at company level ??
Risk Assessment
• Sufficient knowledge about ecotox-profile of substitutes ?
Regulative frame
• Upcoming legislation !
• Existing standards in favour of traditional solutions ?!
• Timing of innovation depends on parallel developments (e.g. Pb-free) !
Kooperationsstelle
Hamburg
Substitution of Hazardous Chemicals in Products and Processes
Questions to the Working Group:
 Is it a case for substitution - YES or NO ?
 If YES: what is needed to promote substitution ?
(present barriers, supportive actions, legal or market
instruments etc.)
 If controversial: what would be the right procedure to decide ?
(criteria; stakeholders to be involved; ...)
 [if all say NO: why then are BFR high on the political agenda ?]
Kooperationsstelle
Hamburg