FR4 is a common PCB material that manufacturers use to produce boards with high power. But aluminum has emerged as a preferred alternative.
Its excellent thermal dissipation performance can help prevent component thermal expansion and contraction on board surfaces, thereby increasing the reliability of electronic devices and their lifespan. This is particularly effective in solving SMT thermal expansion and contraction problems (surface mount technology).
FR4 PCB
fr 4 pcb is the base material used in making standard PCBs. It is laminated with copper foil layers and adhesives. FR4 is highly resistant to heat and moisture, and it has good electrical loss properties. It is also lightweight and fire-resistant.
Another benefit of FR-4 is that it is more stable over a wide temperature range, which helps to reduce the size of the circuit board. However, FR-4 isn’t ideal for radios, antennas, filter circuits, power amplifiers, and high-speed digital PCBs due to its high thermal coefficient of dielectric constant (TCDK).
This property can cause a fluctuating dielectric constant and affect the performance of certain components. For these reasons, it’s recommended to use a high-frequency laminate for these circuits. These laminates have a higher Dk value and lower dissipation factor than FR-4. They are also more environmentally friendly and reduce E-waste.
Embossed PCB
Embossed PCB is a multi-layered printed circuit board that may contain security traces and circuitry. It is typically used in products such as smartphones, tablets, autotronics, medical devices, and weapons.
The etching process for an embossed PCB can be complicated, as it requires careful handling of the copper foil and a number of specialized processes to ensure that all elements are etched to the highest quality possible by fpc manufacturer. This may include the use of a CAD system that helps to optimize trace width and line distance.
One exemplary embossing process includes positioning a PCB (100) in an embossing device (500). The edge of the PCB is then embossed using a fixed bend to create an embossed edge (106) that detects intrusions to the non-embossed portion of the PCB.
MCPCB
MCPCB, also known as insulated metal substrate PCB, is a type of single layer PCB. It is commonly used for high power circuits and LED lighting systems.
These boards feature a dielectric coating that has excellent thermal conductivity. This helps to eliminate the heat generated by power circuits and LED lights. It can also improve the reliability of designs by transferring and dissipating heat.
This technology also helps to reduce vibration for components, which can help in preventing them from falling off the PCB during use. It is particularly effective in the lighting industry.
The base material for these PCBs is usually copper or aluminum. This thick metal covers one of the board’s sides, and it spreads heat as it is conductive.
Aluminum PCB
PCB etching is one of the important processes involved in making aluminum PCBs. It removes all the copper between the traces and pads on the circuit board, giving it a shiny finish and allowing you to drill and cut it to size.
Aluminum PCBs are used for a variety of purposes. These include radio signal transmission, power devices, and even computer displays and indicators.
A thin layer of dielectric is added between the circuit and base layers to provide electrical insulation, as well as thermal conductivity. This allows the aluminum PCB to withstand high temperatures.
During the etching process, chemicals are used to etch the outer layers of a PCB. Ferric chloride is the most common chemical used in etching, and it can cause a lot of damage if it’s not handled properly.
If the copper foil of an aluminum pcb is more than 3 oz thick, it needs trace width adjustment. This ensures that the trace width is in line with design specifications after etching.
