Potentially Hazardous Materials in PCB/PWBs

[Luis E Lazcano]

I´m posting this message to ask about potentially hazardous materials present in the different laminate boards manufactured, that some of you may know about.

These are the questions I need to ask you:

1. How common is brominated fire retardant used in PWB material? What other type of materials are used instead of it, in halogen-free laminates?

2. Are PCB (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) or PCN (Polychlorinated Naphthalenes) still used as insulation or heat-transfer medium ? If yes, what is the intended usage?

3. Is lead-free solder used widely for PWB fabrication? What´s the main type of lead-free alloy industries use? Can you tell of a rough % of the companies still using lead-solder?

Thanks in advance for your answer ...