3 ms·
That is because CdTe is actually a stable molecule that isn’t water soluble, turns out the problem of panels from a toxic leeching perspective is largely from t
by clomond 4y ago
That is because CdTe is actually a stable molecule that isn’t water soluble, turns out the problem of panels from a toxic leeching perspective is largely from the small amounts of lead used at soldering points which is a common point with most silicon PV panels.
No reason tin can’t be used instead/lead free panels can’t be made except for the saving of a few pennies by skimping on the solder - no regulations to ensure they should be lead free. Unfortunately waste processing decades into the future isn’t often accounted for and those few pennies at design time add up across hundreds of thousands of panels on a single site…
- pencilguin 4y agoNowadays everything is "ROHS", even in the US, so not even lead.
- hoseja 4y agoHave they actually made a decent lead-free solder yet?
- pmlnr 4y agoNope.
- Doxin 4y agoYes. You just need to set your iron a fair bit hotter and learn to live with matte solder joints.
- nousermane 4y agoAlso, typical lead-free solders oxidize in air at their soldering temperature much more readily than near-eutectic Pb-Sn at its respective soldering temp. That oxide film tends to interfere pretty badly with wetting of surfaces being soldered. In other words - it's much easier to end up with a "dry" joint - even with adequately increased temperature - unless better and/or more flux is used.
- Doxin 4y agoNot doubting the facts you've mentioned, but in my experience I've had no problems getting the surfaces to wet, though that may just be due to using rosin core solder that happens to have a good flux in it.