In the last few decades the effect of lead contamination on human health has received significant attention. Based on such concerns elimination of lead from ceramic glaze, paint, plumbing etc. has been legislated and implemented. However, till recently, solders used in electronics, remained lead-based.

The worldwide multi-facetted research efforts to arrive at suitable solutions, especially as the deadline for implementation of lead-free electronic solders approaches, have resulted in an exhaustive number of research papers in several reviewed scientific journals. Similarly there...