RoHS (Pb-Free) Overview.

MEC Crystals is committed to supplying frequency management devices fully compliant with the RoHs Directive 2002/95/EC.

In December 2002, the European Union Parliament approved the content of two directives to better control the management of waste electronic equipment. The two directives are the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and the Restriction of Hazardous substances (RoHS). The WEEE addresses the collection and treatment requirements of waste electronic equipment for the member countries. The RoHS sets phase-out dates for the use of lead (Pb) and several other materials contained in electronic products. The RoHS states that the targeted materials shall no longer be contained in the electronic products above certain limits unless there is an exemption provided in the rule.

Although RoHS is a European Union (EU) Directive, manufacturers of EEE outside Europe must also abide by this legislation if the equipment they produce is ultimately imported into a EU member state.

Details of the legislation can be found from the below link:


RoHs Directive 2002/95/EC
WEEE Directive 2002/96/EC
ELV Directive 2000/53/EC

Brief Definitions:

Lead-free(Pb-free) Products: The level of Pb in any homogeneous material is 0.1% by weight max and also meets any Pb-free requirements/definitions adopted by the RoHs Directive (a homogeneous material cannot be mechanically disjointed into different materials.

RoHs Compliant Product: Lead(Pb) and the other materials (Hg, Cd, Cr+6, PBB, PBDB) banned in RoHs Directive are below all applicable substance thresholds as proposed/approved by the EU.

Exemptions: The RoHs Directive Annex contains certain exemptions. Those applicable to MEC Crystals products are mentioned in the paragraph 5 and 7:
5- Pb contained in glass used in electronic components.
7a- Pb contained in high melting temperature type solders, having more than 85% Pb in the alloy.
7b- Pb contained in ceramic piezoelectronic components.


Process Compatibility:

The Mec Crystals suggested solder reflow profile(s) specification sheets are available upon request. All products are backward compatible to earlier lower temperature reflow profile(s).


Marking and Labeling:

All Mec Crystals labels are identified with a Pb-free/RoHs marking for all Pb-free/RoHs products.