European Directive

The English version of the European Directive 2002/95/CE (ROHS) can be visualized in:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2003/l_037/l_03720030213en00190023.pdf

Technique News

According to the requirements of ROHS  European Directive 2002/95/CE, From 1 July 2006, Member States shall ensure that, new electrical and electronic equipment put on the market does not contain lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE).

However, later on 18 August 2005, an amending Directive “ 2005/618/EC”, based on the evidence that a total avoidance of heavy metals and brominated flame retardants is in some instances impossible to achieve, certain concentration values for lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in materials should be tolerated. So in the Annex to Directive 2002/95/EC the following note is added:

“…a maximum concentration value of 0,1 % by weight in homogeneous materials for lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and of 0,01 % by weight in homogeneous materials for cadmium shall be tolerated”.

Has result of the Directive, Some Galvanized Steel Suppliers, made now the passivation of Hot Dip Galvanized with chromium III or chromium free instead of chromium VI (Hexavalent chromium).

However they say: The use of  this type of passivation, requires particular care and attention of the users. Because it seems proven that the contact with humidity and namely water emulsions, can sometimes produce white colorations of the surface.

So is recommended to the user of Galvanized Flat Produts with chromium III  passivation the following:  at the end of the processing activity, try to limit or eliminate the humidity vestiges and the surface condensation on the stored material through the environment control or lubrification.