Electronic control equipment has been used for several decades to control processes and
enhance yields in the pulp and paper industry. Control rooms housing electronic equipment
typically classify the environment by the ISA-71.04-1985 standard for environments of
electronic control equipment. This has served the industry well for a period of time.
However, the requirements of the European Union Restriction of Hazardous Substances
Directive have caused many electronic equipment manufacturers to change from lead solder to
other technologies which are more susceptible to gaseous corrosion. These types of
connections can fail quickly in Mild and Moderate environments, previously thought to cause
problems only after long periods of time.
This paper will present the historical relationship of corrosion to equipment reliability and the
more current problems that have occurred on RoHS compliant circuitry.
Keywords: electronic equipment corrosion, creep corrosion, reactivity monitoring, restriction of
hazardous substances (RoHS)