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Leadfreemagazine.com
is brought to you by a consortium of leading companies
in the industry: Aqueous Technologies, BTU International, Creative
Automation, DEK, ESSEMTEC, EVS International, Kester, KIC, Kyzen, MVP, Ovation Products, Polyonics,
Practical Components, TYCO, and VJ Electronix |
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Product
Identification
By Jim Williams
Director of Marketing
Polyonics, Inc.
867 Route 12, Unit 4
Westmoreland, NH 03467
tel:603-352-1415
fax:603-352-1936
jim.williams@polyonics.com
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Mystery Board ? Did It Come from “Lead-Free” or “Standard” Processing?
Many manufacturers are now in the process of changing production lines from standard to RoHS compliant lead-free processes. Most manufacturing facilities will run parallel production lines during this changeover. The internal issue of running two production streams, RoHS compliant and non-compliant, demands quick identification of which sub-assembly is compliant and which is not. Not having this ability can lead to costly expense of the board having to be scrapped or reworked.Polyonics Inc. has a full line of RoHS compliant color polyimide labels (e.g., green, yellow, blue, pink, orange, white, etc.) that survive both standard and lead-free processes. To see these colors and learn more visit www.polyonics.com/kaptonkitColors.htm. Because most companies have been using white barcode labels, they continue to use those for assemblies in standard processes. Using a green or other colored label to mark boards that are compliant coming from lead-free processes allows the manufacturer to know which production process the boards are coming from at a glance.
Are “Lead-Free” Fluxes or Cleaners Eating Your Labels?
With the RoHS/WEEE requirements, new lead-free fluxes and cleaners are coming into use as PCB manufacturers move towards compliance with these initiatives. As a result of the higher temperatures required by these new cleaners and fluxes, some new label issues may appear. A free, downloadable white paper is available to provide more information on this at www.polyonics.com/DocsCenter/GlobalSMT&PAckaging.pdf.
Moreover, the new lead-free solders require different fluxes and cleaners than before. Now, previously approved label and ribbon combinations come under chemical attack. Polyonics Inc. has been working with worldwide PCB manufacturers to resolve issues where the rosin mildly activated (RMA) flux is causing the ribbon to smear or, in some cases, where the flux will attack the printable topcoat of the label.
Polyonics Inc. has developed a new thermal transfer printable polyimide label material that survives the RMA fluxes. This developmental product currently is available in white and green colors. For more information contact Ken Terrazzino at info@polyonics.com.
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