RoHS Testing Methods
The initial method used for RoHS compliance testing is by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF), as per ASTM F2617. XRF analyzers come in stand-alone, bench-top and handheld formats. Portable, on-site XRF testing using a handheld XRF analyzer is usually performed first and focuses on the parts of a product with the highest risk of containing restricted substances. Other RoHS testing methods used include Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR) testing and sometimes Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) testing.
XRF analyzers can be bought or rented as the need arises. The following is a list of major XRF manufacturers:
- Bruker AXS
- Innov-X Systems
- Niton
- Oxford Instruments
- PANalytical
- Rigaku Americas
- RMD Instruments
- Shimadzu
- SII Nanotechnology
- Skyray XRF
- Spectro Analytical
With the advent of RoHS 3 and the four added phthalates, additional testing is required to ascertain levels of these compounds, which are extracted with a solvent. The extraction solvent is then analyzed for the presence of phthalates using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) or coupled with flame ionization detection (GC/FID).