October 1, 2009
Furukawa Electric has established a control framework against the hazardous substances in eco-friendly electric wires (Note 1) based on X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) (Note 2), and is carrying out strict control starting from raw materials. Recently, we led the world in setting up “reference materials” (Note 3) for the control of heavy metal elements that are anticipated to comprise the group of controlled substances coming next, i.e., arsenic, bismuth, selenium and antimony, thereby expanding the control framework against hazardous substances.
We intend to utilize this framework hereafter for the quality control and acceptance tests of eco-friendly electric wires, in order to boost sales as well as to supply products with enhanced reliability and safety.
Background
ECOACEPLUS electric wires
Currently, use of environmentally hazardous substances is prohibited by the RoHS directive and other regulations.
Polyvinylchloride (PVC) that has been widely used as a sheathing material for electric wires has raised a problem in that it contains environmentally hazardous lead and a halogen (chlorine) that causes generation of dioxine. Thus Furukawa Electric sells ECOACEPLUS Series, an eco-friendly electric wire series that contains no heavy metal elements or halogen elements in its sheath.
In order to prevent quality troubles caused by contamination of hazardous substances in eco-friendly electric wires, highly reliable control is required in the acceptance tests of raw materials and the shipping tests of products.
While nondestructive testing of XRF is extensively used in such a control scheme since it allows easy operation, this method requires “reference materials” having similar compositions with the products, to achieve accurate measurements. We have already set up our unique reference materials, as for hazardous substances in eco-friendly electric wires, of heavy metals (lead, cadmium and hexavalent chromium) ― these are prohibited substances for use by the RoHS directive ― and halogens (chlorine and bromine); and simultaneously, we have developed an accurate evaluation method using XRF, thereby carrying out strict control starting from raw materials.
We are the only company in the industry that is capable of such measurements and is carrying out these measurements as a daily routine of quality control activities. Moreover, since we apply the same control on our OEM production, we also supply safe OEM products as well.
As mentioned above, we have implemented the industry's highest-ranked control framework in terms of controlling hazardous substances in eco-friendly electric wires. Recently, however, in response to the heightened importance of environment preservation worldwide, there is a growing need for supply of more reliable and safer products.
Contents
Furukawa Electric considers that the company should take initiative in controlling more hazardous substance than those regulated by the current laws and regulations.
Accordingly, in order to control heavy metals (arsenic, bismuth, selenium and antimony) which are anticipated to constitute the coming group of controlled substances, in addition to the currently controlled substances mentioned above, we have set up the reference materials of these substances. Although the plastics-applicable reference materials of bismuth, selenium and antimony except for arsenic are not available commercially, we have been successful in performing XRF measurements using the reference materials set up here, thus leading the world in establishing a highly reliable control method. (The range of quantitative analysis is 100 ~ 500 μg/g (Note 4).)
This has made it possible, in terms of eco-friendly electric wire products, to supply products with increased reliability and safety, by controlling the contamination of more hazardous substances in the acceptance tests of raw materials and the shipping tests of products.
Glossary
(Note 1) Eco-friendly electric wire:
A generic name of environment-friendly electric wires and cables, which do not contain in its sheath hazardous heavy metals such as lead or halogens that generates dioxine when incinerated and causes acid rain, and which has high recyclability.Back to Main Content
(Note 2) X-ray fluorescence analysis:
An element analysis method using X-ray. It is extensively used in quality control at factories since it is a nondestructive testing method with ease of operation. For accurate quantitative analysis, reference materials having similar compositions as for the products are required.Back to Main Content
(Note 3) Reference materials:
Substances for generating calibration curves required for quantitative analysis, in which the amount of component elements are accurately determined. Some reference materials (e.g. for copper alloys and plastics) are commercially available. In the case of plastics, however, commercially-available reference materials can not be used for accurate evaluation, since various additives are used in actual products to bring out diversified features such as flame retardance.Back to Main Content
(Note 4) Range of quantitative analysis of 100 ~ 500 µg/g:
A range of concentrations capable of carrying out accurate analysis. For example, the regulatory limit of lead is specified as 1000 µg/g in many regulations including the RoHS directive. Since it is anticipated that equivalent regulatory limits will be applied to the new substances group, the value of 100 ~ 500 µg/g here is sufficiently low with respect to the possible regulatory limit. The lower limit of the quantitative analysis is about 20 µg/g.Back to Main Content