German semiconductor giant Infineon Technologies has partnered with UK startup Jiva Materials to launch a groundbreaking innovation—the Soluboard.

These novel printed circuit boards (PCBs) are not only recyclable but also biodegradable, offering a promising solution to the environmental challenges posed by traditional PCBs.

Soluboard PCBs: A Closer Look

The Soluboard PCBs are composed of natural fibers and a halogen-free polymer, significantly reducing their carbon footprint compared to conventional glass-based fibers typically used in electronic devices.

"This is a milestone towards a greener future," remarked Andreas Kopp, Head of Product Management Discretes at Infineon's Green Industrial Power Division.

"We are actively researching the reusability of discrete power devices at the end of their service life, which would be an additional significant step towards promoting a circular economy in the electronics industry."

Dissolving the Material

One of the most intriguing features of the Soluboard PCBs is their ability to dissolve rapidly when immersed in hot water.

According to Engadget, researchers at the University of Washington College of Engineering and Microsoft Research discovered that these circuit boards can totally dissolve in less than six minutes.

This not only eliminates the need for specific recycling methods but it also makes it easier to recover valuable metals attached to the boards.

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Vikram Iyer, a prominent team member that created a Soluboard-powered mouse, shared insights into this unique attribute. "After [it dissolves], we're left with the chips and circuit traces, which we can filter out," explained Iyer, emphasizing the potential benefits of the water-based recycling process in metal recovery.

Reducing Carbon Emissions

In addition to their biodegradability, Soluboard PCBs have another impressive environmental advantage.

By replacing the commonly used FR-4 PCB materials with Soluboard, the electronics industry could potentially reduce carbon emissions by an astonishing 60 percent.

According to Jonathan Swanston, CEO and co-founder of Jiva Materials, this amounts to saving approximately 10.5 kg of carbon and 620 g of plastic per square meter of PCB.

Greener Electronics Industry

Infineon has already started integrating Soluboard in its demo and evaluation boards, showcasing its commitment to testing sustainable designs in the electronics industry.

The company has produced three different demo boards using this cutting-edge technology and plans to expand its offerings over the coming years.

The move towards Soluboard also aligns with the European Commission's Green Deal agenda, which aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and promote circularity in the EU economy.

Infineon's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and promote eco-friendly practices align perfectly with the vision of a greener, more sustainable future.

Circular Economy

Infineon's adoption of Soluboard represents a significant step forward in the electronics industry's quest for a circular economy.

The potential to extend the lifetime of electronic components by recycling power semiconductors removed from Soluboard PCBs offers a glimmer of hope in tackling the issue of electronic waste.

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