Product category:
Plugs and Sockets
News Release from: Smiths Interconnect - Hypertac
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 25 May 2006
RoHS compliance doesn't compromise
performance
Innovative processing technologies allow 100% RoHS compliance for industrial connectors while fulfilling requirements for corrosion resistance, EMC behaviour and aesthetic appearance.
Hypertac has revealed details of the innovative processing technologies that have allowed it to achieve 100% RoHS compliance for its industrial connector range while continuing to fulfil customer requirements for corrosion resistance, EMC behaviour and aesthetic appearance Hypertac achieved this compliance in December 2005, in good time to help its customers meet the EU's implementation deadline, which now lies only weeks away
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 11 May 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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The key to Hypertac's ability to implement RoHS ahead of schedule was the principle of continuous improvement embodied within the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.
Working on this principle, Hypertac started intensive investigations to identify substitutes for the six banned substances and in particular hexavalent chromium long before the European RoHS Directive was passed on 27th January 2003.
The RoHS Directive (or to give it its full name, European Directive 2002/95/EC-RoHS) will take full effect on 1st July 2006.
Further reading
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Originally designed for the demands of in-car electrical connections in the railway industry, HFR series rectangular cable-to-cable connectors are suitable for signal and power applications up to 26A.
High-density PCB connectors stack up advantages
Hypertac Interconnect has added a stacking option to its standard range of HPH high-density PCB connectors.
Custom cable option on high-reliability connectors
Hypertac Interconnect now provides custom cabling assembly services for both its standard and custom Hypertac connectors.
It restricts the use of certain toxic metals like lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium (chromium VI), and the use of some flame retardant additives in plastic in particular polybrominated biphenyls (PBEs) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDEs).
Hypertac's internal environmental rules already prohibited the use of the majority of these materials: hexavalent chromium, however, posed a real challenge.
Chromium occurs in a number of oxidation states, the most common being +2, +3 and +6.
Whereas chromium (III) is an essential trace element required in humans for a healthy metabolism, chromium (VI) can irritate the skin, nose and throat and can cause lung cancer.
Hexavalent chromium was, however, commonly employed in connectors deployed in harsh environments, as a surface coating to provide corrosion protection.
Since no readily available alternative existed at the time, in April 2000 Hypertac started an investigation programme to identify technically equivalent but environmentally safe substitutes.
The programme included investigations into alternative materials, and into a number of different processing and surface treatment methods.
The most promising solutions were thoroughly analysed and evaluated in close collaboration with Hypertac's suppliers and customers.
Plating with chromium (III) passivation treatments alternative to chromium VI, combined with specialised surface preparation and post-processing techniques, was the breakthrough that made compliance with RoHS possible, while providing a paintable surface and retaining adequate corrosion protection and electrical conductivity.
Hypertac checked the effectiveness of the new process via a test validation programme including salt spray durability tests following DIN50021 SS and life cycle corrosion tests.
As well as connectors for harsh environments, the technique has since been applied to other Hypertac connectors where RoHS compliance is required.
For customers requiring custom or military parts that fall outside the classification requirement alternative options are still available.
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