H
Homogeneous Material
Definition
A homogeneous material is defined in RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU Article 3(20) as a material that cannot be mechanically disjointed into different materials — meaning a single material, uniform throughout its composition. RoHS maximum concentration values (MCVs) for restricted substances apply at the homogeneous material level, not at the product or component level. Examples: a plastic pellet, a wire coating, a solder alloy, a plating layer, or a glass substrate. A component such as a capacitor is not a homogeneous material; it must be disaggregated into its constituent homogeneous materials for assessment.
Source
Directive 2011/65/EU, Article 3(20) and Article 4(1); CENELEC guidance on homogeneous material definition.
Practical Explanation (Compliance Context)
The homogeneous material concept is the most fundamental technical requirement in RoHS compliance. Every EEE product must be disaggregated to the homogeneous material level for substance assessment. This requires product teardown analysis, material decomposition, and substance concentration measurement per material. The 0.1% limit, for example, applies to each individual polymer layer, metal alloy, coating, or sealant — not averaged across the product. Misunderstanding this concept is one of the most common RoHS compliance errors.