"Green" Production of Power Semiconductors
by Udo Steinebrunner
Diotec Semiconductor AG, Germany
While everyone is talking about lead-free (Pb-free) electronic devices for environmental protection, the pollution during production of the parts itself has been of less interest. In 1995, Diotec introduced its "Plasma EPOS Technology" which not only allows the omission of tons of aggressive acids but also improves the quality of the produced parts. Using dip-tinning for the lead finish is another step to avoid lots of chemicals which would be necessary for galvanic tinning. In the future both legislative as well as market pressures will force electronics' manufacturers not only to sell eco-friendly products, but also to produce them according to stringent environmental regulations.
Several environmental laws have come into force within the EU, including the Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and End of Life Vehicles (ELV) directives, all of which require electronic device manufacturers to reduce or avoid use of hazardous substances like heavy metals. The best examples for such substances are the lead-based tin alloys for plating the contact leads of electronic components. The European Directives were created to cope with the rapidly-growing waste stream of electrical and electronic equipment that's been identified as one of the largest source of heavy metals and organic pollutants in municipal waste. Similar are actions are underway in Japan, and should eventually be in force in the US as well.
There is also a less well-known EU regulation (currently in the draft
proposal phase) that deals with the impact of Electrical and Electronic
Equipment on the Environment (EEE). This directive's goal is to avoid waste
even before a device has finished its life cycle. In addition to addressing
issues concerning the disposal of equipment, it also contains measures that
require minimization of pollution during production and usage.
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