Another major issue is tin whiskers. We have hard evidence at
$WeBuildAvionics (where I am currently consluting) that the current Pb
Free / RoHS solder mixes have significant problems with growing whiskers,
leading to wonderful issues such as short circuits developing under BGAs a
few months after production. In a Flight control computer (don't laugh -
in a fly by wire environment it's the ONLY flight control and virtually
all late model airliners use it) this is Not a Good Thing [tm].

The whole RoHS / Pb free thing is a political issue - the processes for Pb
Free use more hazardous substances than they get rid of.

Typical EU beauraucrats - unelected, overpaid and have to find something
to regulate to justify their existence. [1]

Cheers

PeteS

[1] Their existence, even from birth, might not be justifiable.


It's good to hear at last from someone involved in the avionics industry,
and it's also good to hear that this particular industry is identifying
serious problems with the technology, as that might at least help to
maintain their exemption for some years to come. I really hope that the
industry has sufficient strength to stand up to this legislation, and to
continue to maintain their position of refusing to use it on safety /
reliability grounds. With my daily dealings with lead-free solder, and all
of the problems that it has brought to consumer electronics, the thought of
being held seven miles up in the sky by equipment using the same technology,
is truly worrying to me.

I cannot agree more that this whole thing is a poorly thought through
example of 'bandwagon politics' and job justification.

I would be interested in hearing any other input that you may have on the
subject, with regard to the avionics industry. Both anecdotal and factual
would be welcome, and I am sure that Graham (who started this thread) would
like see more from you, as well.

Arfa