Is 18-8 Stainless Steel inherently RoHS compliant?
Is 18-8 Stainless Steel inherently RoHS compliant?
(OP)
I am responsible for my company's RoHS compliance process and the question of 18-8 stainless steel came up. We buy lots of 18-8 stainless hardware (screws, etc.) through distributors with no real knowledge of the actual manufacturer, but we do get a material C of C stating that they are made of 18-8 stainless steel.
Here is the quandary...
My limited knowledge of metallurgy tell me that during the Argon/Oxygen Decarburization (AOD) process of refining 18-8 stainless any cadmium or mercury should vaporize and be carried away with the gasses flowing through the crucible. Add to this the tight control of lead in 18-8 stainless (>.005%)to assure the material meets the ductility requirements and the material should be inherently RoHS compliant.
Is this the case? Will the AOD process limit mercury to below 1000 ppm and cadmium below 100 ppm?
Has anyone used a similar method?
Here is the quandary...
My limited knowledge of metallurgy tell me that during the Argon/Oxygen Decarburization (AOD) process of refining 18-8 stainless any cadmium or mercury should vaporize and be carried away with the gasses flowing through the crucible. Add to this the tight control of lead in 18-8 stainless (>.005%)to assure the material meets the ductility requirements and the material should be inherently RoHS compliant.
Is this the case? Will the AOD process limit mercury to below 1000 ppm and cadmium below 100 ppm?
Has anyone used a similar method?





RE: Is 18-8 Stainless Steel inherently RoHS compliant?
It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.
RE: Is 18-8 Stainless Steel inherently RoHS compliant?
But even then since it is a solid with all metals in a solid solution it does meet all of the requirements.
That isn't to say that you couldn't surface treat or coat it with something that is non-compliant.
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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube
RE: Is 18-8 Stainless Steel inherently RoHS compliant?
Not sure that this complies with the spirit and intent of RoHS.
RE: Is 18-8 Stainless Steel inherently RoHS compliant?
It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.
RE: Is 18-8 Stainless Steel inherently RoHS compliant?
Sticking it other places may make you feel like you are being environmentally sensitive, but a number of the criteria just don't apply.
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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube