The European Union Directive on the restriction of certain hazardous substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment becomes effective on July 1, 2006, in all member states.1 The Directive applies to certain electrical and electronic equipment dependent on electronic or electromagnetic fields and requires that, with some exceptions, hazardous substances (lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers) not exceed 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials, or that cadmium not exceed 0.01% by weight in homogeneous materials.2 While the Directive amounts to an import ban; as a practical matter, virtually no one will be checking the products at the point of entry. Therefore, non-compliant products may enter the stream of commerce, subjecting the producer (manufacturer, reseller, or importer/exporter) to significant penalties once authorities are alerted.
The Plasma System 80 microwave plasma inline system cleans advanced packages prior to die attach, wire bond, and encapsulation without harmful UV light in a variable size process chamber. The system applies 2.45-GHz microwaves through an applicator on top of the vacuum chamber, producing extended plasma without damage.