Product category:
PCB Connectors
News Release from: Harting | Subject: Lead-free connectors
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 23 May 2005
All electronics connector families go
Pb-free
Harting has introduced lead-free versions of all its electronics connector families, incorporating optimised surface finishes for solder, crimp, wire-wrap, IDC and press-fit products.
Harting has introduced lead-free (Pb-free) versions of all its electronics connector families, incorporating optimised surface finishes for solder, crimp, wire-wrap, IDC and press-fit products The company plans to deliver 90% of its electronics connectors in lead-free form by August 2005, with the remaining 10% being completed by the 1st January 2006: well ahead of the European RoHS Directive coming into force on the 1st July 2006
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 11 Jun 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Many Harting products have been lead-free for some time, but connectors involving solder termination have traditionally relied on tin-lead coating which is prohibited under the RoHS Directive.
Harting carried out exhaustive tests - both in its own laboratories and in conjunction with independent test houses - on alternative materials, before selecting pure tin with a matt surface as the optimum finish.
The use of matt tin virtually eliminates the possible formation of tin whiskers - a suspected cause of short circuits and equipment failures - which can occur with bright finishes.
The material qualified and coated by Harting has shown no evidence of any visible whisker formation.
Connectors based on this matt tin finish are suitable for use in modern high-temperature lead-free reflow soldering processes, where temperatures between 240 and 270C can be encountered.
For connectors using solder-free connection techniques, Harting has dispensed with the use of pure tin completely because of its susceptibility to deformation caused by mechanical stresses.
For press-fit, wire-wrap and crimp terminations, a nickel finish is used, while for insulation-displacement connectors the choice is either nickel or gold.
All product versions are fully upward and downward compatible, and all type numbers will remain the same.
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