23 September 2020
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
By Dr Nick Dajda, product manager Nordson Electronics Solutions, DAGE Products.
Lead is a unique material and is used in a wide range of applications. It has a high density making it ideal for ballast, is relatively ductile and easy to shape and has a low melting point which reduces casting costs. It also has chemical properties which make it useful for alloying and for use in batteries and superconductors.
Lead is also well known in the X-ray industry as it is one of the most popular shielding materials employed for containing X-rays within the equipment. Its low cost and high attenuation capability make it ideal for this application.
Unfortunately, lead is particularly toxic and its use in paints, fuels and electronics has now been restricted to all but a few niche applications where no viable alternatives currently exist. In 2018, lead was added to the European Union list of substances of very high concern.
Lead-free alternatives for X-ray shielding have been available for some time, but have not seen widespread use other than for protective clothing. During the development of Explorer one, the latest addition to our X-ray inspection line-up, we saw an opportunity to change our approach to shielding for the better − we developed EnviroShieldTM. This is a new, proprietary (patent pending) lead-free X-ray shielding technology which uses a commonly available mineral which absorbs X-rays using exactly the same physical mechanisms as lead does. Most importantly, it is non-toxic and easy to dispose of at end of life, unlike lead.
We manufacture EnviroShield as a moulded composite which, as well as having very strong shielding properties, is also particularly rigid and strong. EnviroShield has been rolled out on our Explorer one X-ray inspection system, so employees and suppliers involved in the manufacture of Explorer one no longer need to work with lead.
We are very excited about the potential of our new lead-free shielding technology. The use of lead is very restricted today, with only a small number of applications allowed and further global restrictions likely on the way in the future. For the first time our customers have an alternative to choosing a lead-based system, helping us to divert hundreds of tons of toxic lead from being used in the future.
Outscale your competition
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Attendees will be able to explore the benefits of AMD Kintex UltraScale+ Gen 2 FPGAs in high-performance Pro AV, test & measurement, industrial, and medical applications.
Read more...MTN SA Foundation drives youth pathways into the digital economy
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
The MTN SA Foundation, in partnership with Helios Towers and Datacomb Development Hub, has launched the MTN–Helios Towers 12-month ICT Learnership Programme, a pathway that takes young South Africans from digital training into real workplace experience.
Read more...The impact of harsh environments and ionic contamination on post-reflow circuit assemblies MyKay Tronics
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
There is well documented historical proof that post-reflow circuit assemblies, when subjected to harsh environments, are particularly vulnerable to failure mechanisms, but modern electronic assemblies are far more susceptible to this phenomenon.
Read more...Engineering copper grain structure for high-yield hybrid bonding in 3D packaging Testerion
Editor's Choice Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
The way copper grains are sized and distributed forms the metallurgical foundation of hybrid bonding, enabling lower bonding temperatures, greater reliability, and stable grain structures throughout integration.
Read more...Understanding solder dross: causes and control strategies Truth Electronic Manufacturing
Editor's Choice Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Dross formation is an inevitable consequence of wave soldering. It occurs when molten solder comes into contact with oxygen, forming metal oxides that float on the surface of the solder bath. Over time, this oxidation byproduct accumulates and must be removed to maintain solder quality and process consistency.
Read more...Implications of using Pb-free solders on X-ray inspection of flip chips and BGAs MyKay Tronics
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
With the move to Pb-free soldering, most of the attention has been paid to reflow temperatures, component compatibility, and reliability concerns, but the implications for inspection, particularly X-ray inspection, are equally important and often underestimated.
Read more...The causes of solder balls in robotic soldering
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Solder balls (also known as solder splatter) are a major concern in many production sites as they may potentially cause shorts, leading to long-term impacts on product reliability.
Read more...Material challenges for superconducting quantum chips
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
To achieve the scalable and repeatable production of superconducting circuits for quantum technology products, players in the industry are leveraging semiconductor fabrication techniques.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version