Hello EMC/PSTC-list,
I have a question concerning Berylium Copper (BeCu). Even though this is
not a direct
EMC oriented question, it is or could be, indirectly, a serious problem in
the EMC shielding of our
products.
I have been asked if BeCu can still be used in Europe and the USA (and the
rest-of-the world) as
the material for shielding gaskets and fingers.
The main issue here is that Berylium (probably in combination) is
classified as an carcinogen and
it is also know to cause lung diseases (e.g. CDB or chronic Berylium
disease). Note that this is only the
case if small particles are inhaled into the lungs. However, I have also
received conflicting information
that it is BeO (Berylium Oxide) which is or could be the cultprit. BeO is
used as an electronic packaging material.
Therefore I assume that the BeCu gaskets and fingers are not an health
hazard when used as a
shielding part in our products, but are (or could be) hazardeous during
manufacturing and recycling.
I have been told on several occasions that BeCu is not allowed any more,
but one can not provide
me with standards or legal texts to substantiate the above statements. I
have also been told that
we need to change the BeCu shielding parts asap to stainless steel parts.
However, personally
I do not feel convinced and was hoping that EMC experts on the
EMC/PSTC-list could help me out with the
following questions:
-1- is it correct that BeCu fingers/gaskets are considered a hazardeous
substance and that they will
be abolished from electronic equipment?
-2- if question 1 is correct, what is then the exact argument for not
using BeCu??
-3- are there (world wide) legal standards/regulations published that state
that BeCu (as a finished product)
cannot be used anymore and by which date???
-4- what is your experience with the conversion of BeCu to stailess steel
gaskets/fingers for non-dynamical
shielding applications (cost, problems, ...)???
Kind regards,
Jan Vercammen
Agfa-Gevaert NV
Mortsel, Belgium
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