RoHS compliant solder

RoHS-compliant solder refers to solder that meets the requirements of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive in the European Union. This directive restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, including lead, cadmium, mercury, and others. In practice, this often translates to using lead-free solder because lead is one of the restricted substances.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
RoHS Directive:
The European Commission’s RoHS directive aims to reduce the environmental and health risks associated with electronic devices by limiting the use of harmful substances.
Lead-Free Solder:
Since lead is a restricted substance in the RoHS directive, manufacturers often choose to use lead-free solder to comply with the regulations.
RoHS Compliance:
Being RoHS-compliant means that the solder (and the entire product) adheres to the substance restrictions outlined in the RoHS directive.
Importance of Lead-Free Solder:
The shift to lead-free solder is a significant aspect of RoHS compliance, as it helps to reduce the environmental impact of electronic waste.
Exemptions:
While lead is generally restricted, there are some exemptions to the RoHS directive for specific uses of lead in certain solder alloys.