Evaluation of energy consumption of lead-free soldering process

Now the electronics industry is due to substitute lead-free solder for conventional solder. Substitution of lead-bearing solders can bring out reduction of the toxicity of solders caused by lead, but according to Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), it may cause increase of energy consumption in the soldering process. We investigated the energy consumption of the soldering process at production sites of various companies and compared the values of the energy consumption of mounting process using conventional solder with that using lead-free solder. In results, the increase rate of the energy consumption caused by the substitution of lead-free solder is lower than that calculated by LCA. Therefore the energy consumption of soldering process can hold the status quo.