What issues are present when using XRF as a test tool for RoHS compliance?
XRF is a popular and economical tool used to detect substances of concern. There are, however, severe limitations to its application as an accurate means of verifying RoHS compliance. These often lead to false negative readings. XRF will detect substances such as lead (Pb) and bromine (Br). The presence of these substances, however, does not indicate non-compliance. For example, the EU standard prohibits PBB and PBDE, not all forms of Bromine. Additionally, lead is a naturally occuring exempt substance in certain metal alloys and glass-ceramic. XRF cannot adequately distinguish between plating and base metals because of depth of penetration. Pb-free platings may be comingled with lead oxide present in base metal and give false negatives. For these and other reasons, our policy is to use destructive analysis and reports such as those provided by SGS Laboratories. We ask this of our component suppliers or perform the tests at ourselves as needed.
