Development of eco-friendly electric wires in accordance to the RoHS directive

RoHS (restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment) directive will be enforced in Europe starting from July, 2006, and the requirements for reducing heavy metals (cadmium, lead, chromium(VI), mercury) and specific brominated flame-retardants (PBB, PBDE) will become even stricter. The authors have developed and commercialized various electric wires for eco-friendly equipment. Moreover, the analysis method of those hazardous substances has been developed, and the system for controlling the substances level has been established.