How much lead is in a pc board?

[Wyndham]

Since looking at a previous thread on lead nitrate, I was wondering about what happens with a computer board crushed and well as flat packs when HCL + peroxide is used to dissolve the base metals from the gold plating.
Does lead go into the solution as well as the copper and some other metals.
If it does, does this pose a problem or a PROBLEM.
Are the boards now wave soldered lead free and if so how far back does this go. Thanks Wyndham

 

[SapunovDmitry]

Try reading more about ROHS program. It will give you alot of info about the lead content of PC boards and some other bad for health chemicals.
In fact they say that there is no lead in ROHS approved boards, but i don't know if your boards are ROHS or they are just old telecom boards from 1993-1997 and they do have some lead and Beryllium oxide stuff.

 

[lazersteve]

The newer boards that are lead free typically have the symbol Pb with a circle and a slash through it to indicate no lead. There are some other RoHS symbols used by manufacturers as well.

Here's a few educational links:

TI Lead Free Page

More Lead Free Logo Info

You may notice the second link actually mentions identification of ICs that use Pd, Ag, and Au in place of harmful metals. :wink:

Other integrated circuit manufacturers should have similar information on their sites.

Steve