ELCA Laboratories now provides testing as per RoHS directives for screening as well as verification of electrical, electronic, composite, coated and many other metallic and non-metallic components.
What is RoHS?
The RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) Directive is a European Union Legal Directive which deals with the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. This Directive bans the placing on the European market of new electrical and electronic equipment which contain more than agreed levels of toxic and carcinogenic substances like Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Hexavalent Chromium (Cr 6+) , Cadmium, Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE) flame retardants.
Manufacturers need to understand the requirements of the RoHS Directive to ensure that their products, and their components, comply.
When did RoHS come into force?
The RoHS Directive and the UK RoHS regulations came into force on 1 July 2006.
Restricted Levels for the above substances are as below:
1000 ppm (0.1%) maximum for Pb, Hg, Cr 6+, and Br (PBB and PBDE) Compounds 100 ppm (0.01%) maximum for Cd.
Testing for Compliance with RoHS Requirements:
Screening:
An indicative non-destructive test using XRF analyzer can be used at each step of the manufacturing and inspection process to test the conformance to these directives.
This can be used as a first step, in the form of a screening tool. This practice has been widely promoted as a simple low cost analysis technique, and the results can give an indication if a particular product or component may present a potential compliance problem.
ELCA has the equipment and the trained personnel to test for compliance with the RoHS regulations.
With our imported Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) portable spectrometers, screening of samples for RoHS compliance is possible. This method is in fact recommended by the RoHS guidelines, as the first step towards establishing compliance.
Verification:
ELCA also provides verification and detailed analysis by means of various analytical techniques including testing by Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS).
