What are the materials made up the PCB(Printed circuit boards)
PCB are mainly composed of plastics with contents of flame-retardants and paper. The type of plastics is predominantly C-H-O and halogenated polymers. Nylon and polyurethane are also used sometime in smaller amounts. Metals in PCBs consist of a large amount of base metals such as copper, iron, aluminum and tin; rare metals like tantalum, gallium (and other rare platinum groups metals); noble metals such as gold, silver, and palladium. Hazardous metals such as chromium, lead, beryllium, mercury, cadmium, zinc, nickel are also present. Ceramics present in the PCB are primarily silica and alumina. Other ceramic materials include alkaline Earth oxides, mica and barium titanate.
It is extremely difficult to get detailed material composition information, as PCBs are by far the most complicated building blocks in the electric products. PCBs differ widely in their composition and a comprehensive analysis is difficult to produce with any great degree of accuracy. Consideration of materials arising from PCBs should be approached with caution due to the constant changes in technology and materials.