Get the lead out

In-Depth

Solder materials based on lead are still widely used for interconnections in such consumer products as cellular telephones and electronic toys. But things are changing.

Solder materials based on lead are still widely used for interconnections in such consumer products as cellular telephones and electronic toys. In 2000, as much as 10% of the lead used in the US went into solder for these consumer products – which often end up tossed into landfills after a few months or years of use.

Concern about the environmental and human health implications of conventional tin-lead alloy solder have caused the EU and Japan to ban its use altogether. Though lead-based solder alloys haven't yet been outlawed in the U, electronics manufacturers are becoming increasingly interested in alternatives.

An article in the June 3 issue of the journal Science describes progress made in developing alternative materials, including tin-based solders and electrically-conductive adhesives. While none of these materials is yet as good as the lead-based solder they are designed to replace, the article reports significant progress in developing alternatives that would allow manufacturers to get the lead out of their products.

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