Alpha Talks Challenges of Solder Recycling

Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

Fullerton: I joke that it's the evil that we know versus the evil we don't know. We have a very good handle on the life cycle of tin-lead solder based on research and historical usage. We have not even 10 years doing lead-free. We still don't have that 30, 40, 50-year life cycle product that has actually been in the field long enough to see how those react.

Goldman: Like those airplanes.

Fullerton: Right, exactly. Those segments still stay with tin-lead because they can quantify the reliability and they can plan around that. With the lead-frees, the long, long term reliability still hasn't been proven out, pro or con. Those industries are afraid of the unknown. They'd rather quantify it and plan around it, so that's where they still live.

Goldman: When you need the ultimate reliability, you stick with what you know that has the reliability.

Fullerton: Yep, I want the airplane that takes me home to Philadelphia tomorrow to have the most reliable solder possible.

Goldman: And I don't care about anything else.

Fullerton: Exactly.

Goldman: Wonderful. Well, thanks for stopping by Jason.

Fullerton: No problem. Thanks for having me.

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