Empowering safer and more future-oriented battery design: SCHOTT introduces lead-free* SEFUSE® battery fuses

Lead is widely used in industry for its excellent performance and cost-effectiveness due to its unique chemical properties. However, as companies strengthen their environmental and sustainability initiatives, there is growing interest in lead-free products. In addition, the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive restricts lead in electrical and electronic equipment to a maximum concentration of 0.1% (1000 ppm). In the current Annex III exemption, the RoHS directive allows lead in high melting temperature type solders (i.e., lead-based alloys containing 85% or more lead by weight), and in certain electrical and electronic components containing lead in glass or ceramic. Therefore, battery fuses are not currently regulated by the RoHS directives, but it is expected that they will be subject to it in the future.

Innovation for higher safety and sustainability standards

The new lead-free* SCHOTT SEFUSE® battery fuses are designed for future-oriented battery technologies. They allow manufacturers to design products that comply with the RoHS Directive while also reducing environmental impacts.

"I am thrilled to introduce this innovation, which makes lithium-ion battery systems not only safer but also more sustainable," says Shintaro Nakajima, Head of R&D Battery Fuses at SCHOTT. “As a leading manufacturer of thermal links and battery protectors, we are committed to thinking ahead and delivering innovative solutions that anticipate future market needs.”

Broader voltage range for design freedom

Lead-free* SEFUSE® battery fuses are surface mountable and support a broader voltage range than SCHOTT’s conventional fuses, making it easier to design products that accommodate advancements in battery cells while complying with safety standards such as TÜV and UL.

Thanks to the versatility of SCHOTT SEFUSE® battery fuses, manufacturers of rechargeable electronic devices, electric micromobility devices or battery management systems can seamlessly transition to the lead-free* solutions. Lead-free* SEFUSE^® battery fuses are available in the same sizes as SCHOTT’s previous fuse models and in thicknesses as small as 0.85 mm, enabling easy integration into existing designs.

Decades of experience have made SCHOTT a reliable partner in electronic protection, providing ideal solutions for battery protection. Combining deep knowledge and an extensive product range, the company partners with leading manufacturers of rechargeable electronic devices and battery management systems to develop innovative and reliable solutions.

*SCHOTT uses no lead when producing these battery fuses and follows the RoHS Directive. Nevertheless, trace amounts (<1,000 ppm) naturally occur in some materials.