Spectrometer aids RoHS compliance

RS Components is one of the first UK companies to gain the new BSI "RoHS trusted" Kitemark, and its use of Fischer Instrumentation's XAN spectrometer has played a big part.

The Kitemark gives a high degree of confidence that the products a customer receives really do comply with the directive.

It's an enviable position to be in, but also a position that any company in the component supply chain could achieve by following RS's proactive and responsible example.

RS had advice from the BSI with "PARTS" (Pre-Assessment RoHS Trusted Service), followed by full Kitemark assessment and accreditation.

RS were quick to identify the tool to help them attain the Kitemark and the Fischer XAN has proved itself perfect for the job of "goods inwards" screening.

Comments Alan Lund, Product Compliance Manager for RS Components: "The Fischer XAN Spectrometer was selected by RS for RoHS compliance screening for several reasons".

"We were initially impressed by the ease of set up, user friendliness of the software and the level of support provided by Fischer prior to our decision to purchase the equipment".

"This continued with individual training and advice for our engineers".

"In addition, the versatility of the machine and ability to select a collimator size down to 0.2mm allows for very small samples to be quickly analysed".

Small collimators are a distinct advantage of the XAN.

Individual components or component legs can be isolated, using a video camera for precise positioning.

This allows, for example, the analysis of narrow circuit board tracks and the smallest soldering pads.

The accurate analysis of chromium and bromine in the components significantly simplifies the otherwise difficult detection of Cr (VI), PBB and PBE concentrations.

If the amounts of chromium and bromine are below the permitted quotas, then the same holds true for Cr (VI) or PBB and PBE.

Therefore, other time and cost-intensive analysis methods can be avoided by the use of these X-ray fluorescence instruments.

Analysis with the Fischer instruments takes between 50 and 200s, depending on the dimensions of the components to be measured.

The detection limit of lead, mercury and bromine is below 10ppm, for cadmium and chromium below 20ppm.

Personnel without special knowledge of analysis methods can easily identify specimens that are clear of harmful substances.

Components that are near the critical borderline or above can then be analysed quantitatively or rejected.

The supplier can then be required to provide a detailed analysis or replacement parts.

Alan Lund concluded: "It soon became apparent that the equipment was suited to many other uses, apart from RoHS screening, as the technique is completely nondestructive and lends itself to any application where there is a requirement to reliably identify any element from aluminium through to uranium on the periodic table".

"This coupled with a competitive price for this class of instrument makes it a very attractive package".

The X-ray fluorescence method, combined with the fast, easy automation process of the Fischerscope XAN and XDAL spectrometers really do result in a dependable and economic verification of the conformity of components for electrical and electronic equipment for RoHS and WEEE, as the testimonial from RS Components demonstrates.