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Exploring the Possibilities of UV LED & Importance of MCPCB
星期一, 12 6 月, 2023

UV LED technology has opened up a world of possibilities in various industries, revolutionizing applications that require ultraviolet light. From curing adhesives to sterilizing water, UV LEDs have become indispensable in many fields. In this article, we will explore the possibilities of UV LED and discuss the crucial role that Metal Core Printed Circuit Boards (MCPCBs) play in enhancing its performance and reliability.

Introduction to UV LED

UV LED refers to light-emitting diodes that emit ultraviolet light in the range of 100 to 400 nanometers. Unlike traditional UV lamps, UV LEDs offer numerous advantages, including energy efficiency, compact size, and precise control over the emitted wavelength. These characteristics make UV LED technology highly versatile and suitable for a wide range of applications.

Where we can use UV LED?

UV LED lights are finding extensive applications in our daily life, below are some popular fields that it can be apply in.

  • Healthcare and Medicine

One promising area where UV LED lights are making a significant impact is in the field of disinfection and sterilization. UV-C radiation, emitted by UV LEDs, has been proven to effectively kill or inactivate microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Unlike traditional disinfection methods, UV LED technology is safe, energy-efficient, and chemical-free. It finds applications in healthcare facilities, food processing, water purification, and air sterilization systems, ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment. Metal core PCB plays a crucial role in UV-C radiation since MCPCB has good durability and excellent corrosion resistance compared to traditional FR4 PCB. It makes the UV-C radiation performs high performances and long-time lifespan.

  • Industrial and Manufacturing

Another exciting application of UV LED lights is in advanced manufacturing processes, such as 3D printing and lithography. UV-curable resins and photopolymers can be rapidly cured using UV LED exposure, enabling faster production speeds and higher precision. Additionally, UV LED technology allows for the precise control of light wavelengths, which is crucial in fields like electronics, where specific wavelengths are required for the fabrication of microchips and displays.

  • Agriculture

UV LED lights are finding their way into horticulture and agriculture. UV-B radiation, emitted by UV LEDs, has been shown to stimulate plant growth, increase yields, and enhance crop quality. By tailoring the light spectrum using UV LEDs, growers can optimize plant development, promote flowering, and even modulate specific plant traits. The efficient heat dissipation of the metal core circuit board in UV-B radiation ensures prolonged functionality without concerns of excessive heat generated during extended operation. This technology has the potential to revolutionize indoor farming and enable year-round crop production in controlled environments.

  • Environmental Sustainability

UV LED lights play a vital role in environmental sustainability efforts. They are increasingly used for water and air purification systems. UV LED water purifiers effectively deactivate or destroy harmful microorganisms in water, providing safe drinking water without the use of chemicals. Additionally, UV LED air purifiers can eliminate airborne pathogens and allergens, improving indoor air quality. Metal core is a relatively environmentally friendly and healthy material, not only the material itself does not contain volatile substances such as benzene, but also through the solidification of ultraviolet light will form a dense curing film, which can reduce the release of harmful gases in the substrate. So metal core PCB as the substrate for UV LED is a good choice for demand of industry sustainable development.

Importance of MCPCB in UV LED Technology

With the big possibilities of the UV LED, the importance of MCPCB in UV LED technology cannot be overlooked. Thermal management is crucial for UV LEDs, as they generate a significant amount of heat during operation. Without proper heat dissipation, the performance and lifespan of UV LEDs can be compromised.

1. MCPCBs effectively address the thermal management challenges associated with UV LED technology. By efficiently dissipating heat, MCPCBs help prevent overheating, which can lead to reduced lifespan, color shifting, or even LED failure. The use of MCPCBs ensures that UV LEDs operate at their optimal temperature, maximizing their performance, and extending their lifespan.

2. Additionally, MCPCBs contribute to the overall efficiency of UV LED systems. By maintaining lower operating temperatures, MCPCBs minimize the energy losses due to heat. This improved efficiency translates into cost savings and a reduced environmental impact.

3. The last but not least, the reliable and stable construction of MCPCBs also contributes to the longevity and reliability of UV LED systems. With their excellent mechanical strength, MCPCBs protect UV LEDs from physical damage and ensure consistent performance over time.

As the demand for UV LED technology continues to grow, the importance of MCPCB in optimizing its performance and reliability will remain paramount. With ongoing advancements in MCPCB technology, we can expect even more efficient and durable UV LED systems in the future. Best Technology specializes in the manufacturing of MCPCBs. With our state-of-the-art factory and highly skilled engineering team, we can offer you the exceptional one-stop services. If you are currently engaged in a UV LED project and require a dependable supplier, we warmly invite you to reach out to us at your convenience. We are committed to providing reliable solutions for all your UV LED needs. Feel free to contact us anytime.

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What is UVLED? Is MCPCB important for UVLED?
星期六, 3 6 月, 2023

UVLEDs, a subset of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), emit light within the ultraviolet spectrum instead of visible light like traditional LEDs. The UV spectrum is further divided into three main categories based on wavelength: UVA, UVB, and UVC. In this blog, we will explore the critical role of Metal Core Printed Circuit Board (MCPCB) in UVLED technology, highlighting its significance in improving efficiency, heat management, and overall lifespan.

UVA (315-400nm):

UVA, also known as near-ultraviolet, emits long-wave ultraviolet light. It is closest to the visible light spectrum and finds applications in UV curing, forensic analysis, counterfeit detection, tanning beds, and more.

UVB (280-315 nm):

UVB emits medium-wave ultraviolet light and is renowned for its biological effects. It is used in medical treatments, phototherapy, disinfection applications, and even for inducing vitamin D synthesis in the skin.

UVC (100-280 nm):

UVC emits short-wave ultraviolet light and possesses powerful germicidal properties. Its applications include water purification, air disinfection, surface sterilization, and eradication of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms.

UVLEDs typically operate within a temperature range of -40°C to 100°C (-40°F to 212°F). However, it is crucial to note that excessive heat can impact the performance, efficiency, and lifespan of UVLEDs. Therefore, appropriate thermal management techniques such as heat sinks, thermal pads, and adequate airflow are commonly employed to dissipate heat and keep UVLEDs within the optimal temperature range.

In conclusion, MCPCB plays a vital role in UVLED technology, offering essential advantages such as efficient heat dissipation, enhanced thermal conductivity, reliability in harsh environments, and electrical isolation. These qualities are paramount for maximizing UVLED performance, ensuring longevity, and maintaining optimal operating temperatures. The significance of MCPCB lies in its ability to enhance efficiency, improve heat management, and provide a reliable foundation for UVLED systems. Without MCPCB, UVLED applications would face challenges in heat dissipation, performance stability, and overall safety.

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Why HASL Surface Treatment Is Not Suitable For Sink Pad MCPCB?
星期四, 12 1 月, 2023

Sink Pad MCPCB is a special type of metal core PCB (short for MCPCB), the working principle is through the sink heat pad solder direct to the metal substrate (commonly copper or alumina substrate), so people also call it as Thermal pad MCPCB. Sink Pad MCPCB is popular recently due to its excellent heat dissipation and thermal conductivity. Since the copper is easy to get oxidation, coating a metal film is good for protecting the surface, such as ENIG, ENEPIG or OSP. Lead-free hot air solder leveling (HASL) also is a kind of surface treatment, but why we don’t suggest to apply it? Let me explain with you.

Why is HASL not recommended?

  • Substrate

From the substrate aspect, due to the HASL process is to first dip the solder on the circuit board, then dip the solder flux in the melting, and finally blow off the excess solder on the printed board with the hot compressed air in the air knife through the two air knives, at the same time to eliminate the excess solder in the metal hole, so as to get a bright, smooth and uniform solder coating. Since most of customers prefer choose copper substrate as the base material (Aluminum core sink pad PCB thermal conductivity only could be 235 W/m.k, while Copper core sink pad PCB thermal conductivity could reach to 400 W/m.k). However, copper base is much heavier than alumina core, during the hot air knife scraping tin process, the copper surface is easy to be scratched and get damaged to affect the poor appearance and a short circuit risk. This is one of the reasons why HASL is not suitable for Sink Pad PCB.

  • Structure

From the structure of the Sink Pad MCPCB, the LEDs Chip Thermal Pads solder contact to the copper substrate directly, no dielectric between LEDs heat out pads and the Metal core. As you can see the stack up as below, what Sink PAD PCB laminate is pure film, the adhesion is not very good, so there’s a risk of delamination if do HASL (lead free).

  • Chemical

From the chemical aspect, due to the HASL (lead free) has the process of return the film, the potion will react with the copper chemically, which will bring the poor coating and poor adhesion, so we don’t recommend to use HASL on the Sink Pad MCPCB.

Advances of the Sink Pad MCPCB

  • Thermal conductivity 235 To 400 W/m.
  • Super good heat dissipation
  • Power LED junction temperature
  • Longer LED life
  • Most economical direct thermal path solution
  • Direct thermal path
  • Different structure can be made according different design needs

When can we use Sink Pad MCPCB?

With so many kinds of PCB types, when and where can we use the Sink Pad MCPCB?

  1. The copper metal core has high density, strong thermal conductivity and carries heat effectively. That means, it is possible to dissipate the same heat using a smaller sink-pad MCPCB, as compared to regular MCPCBs. So it is suitable be used in small applications which need to apply in high temperature.
  2. Very popular with high power LED mounting, sink-pad MCPCBs with their thermoelectric separation structure, can minimize the lumens depreciation of the LED, thereby prolonging the life of the LED lamp. Sink-pad MCPCBs are suitable for mounting high-power LED lamps and COB packaged LEDs. Moreover, manufacturers can tailor the sink-pad MCPCB to match the different design requirement needs of any LED.

Best Technology is a professional Sink Pad MCPCB manufacturer for more than 16 years in Asia, we have strong engineering team and specialized sales team can provide most suitable solutions for your applications in a very short time. What we can provide not only include single layer Sink Pad MCPCB, we also can produce 2 layers, double layer and multi-layer Sink Pad MCPCB. View https://www.bestpcbs.com/products/sinkpad-board.htm to know our capability about Sink Pad MCPCB.

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Advantages of Sink-pads Copper Substrate in the Field of LED Products
星期二, 17 8 月, 2021

For LED packaging, the cooling performance of the substrate will directly affect the relevant performance of the LED. Due to the low thermal conductivity of the insulation layer, the overall thermal conductivity is generally only 2~5W / (m K), which often causes high working temperature, stability and life decline of LED. Therefore, it is necessary to know the advantages of sinkpad copper substrate.

Doule sided sinkpad of copper board
  1. From the perspective of substrate, the application advantages of copper substrate in heat dissipation.

The copper substrate is used in the field of heat dissipation, mainly because the sinkpad copper substrate has the following advantages: high density, strong heat dissipation ability, the circuit part and the contact part of the products to achieve zero thermal resistance, can effectively extend the life of the products. Large power, strong thermal bearing capacity of copper substrate, according to the actual work requirements of tin spray, gold precipitation, silver plating and other effective treatment, to ensure the effectiveness of the surface treatment.

  • From the perspective of production process, the application advantages of thermal power separation copper substrate in module thermal resistance and chip temperature compared with ordinary copper substrate.

Different LED models and modules cause different thermoelectric effects. When using the common copper substrate, the junction temperature of LED chip is 72.41 ℃. However, when using the sink-pad copper substrate link, the detection shows that: the junction temperature of LED chip is 48.72 ℃. When using the common copper substrate, the thermal resistance of the module is 4.24 ℃ /W. However, after the use of sink-pad copper substrate, the overall thermal resistance of the module was detected to be 2.13 ℃ /W. Due to the different material properties, the thermal resistance of the module thermometer at the bottom of the substrate was different.  

  • From the perspective of heat dissipation theory, for the ordinary copper substrate, the diffusion path of the heat flow is the line layer (copper foil) → thermal conductivity insulation layer copper base. The interface between metal and insulation has high thermal resistance and low thermal conductivity. In the sinkpad copper substrate, the convex platform and the base are actually a whole, and most of the heat will choose to spread through the metal, and only a small amount of heat is transmitted through the interface between the metal and the insulating layer, which greatly improves the thermal conductivity of the substrate.

According to the heat dissipation theory of LED, reducing the junction temperature of LED beads can effectively improve the light output efficiency of LED, enhance the performance stability of LED, and greatly extend the service life of LED module.  

Therefore, in LED products application, the choice of thermal separated copper substrate is the best choice.

single sided sinkpad of copper board

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Common Problems in SinkPAD Board Design
星期四, 17 6 月, 2021

1. What is the SinkPAD Board?

Sink Pad Board, also called Heat Sink or DTP (direct thermal path), it’s an alternative PCB technology to the conventional metal core PCB providing direct thermal path solutions for high power LED. 

The thermal conductive PAD is convexity area of copper core/pedestal, so that the thermal PAD of LED can touch the convexity area of metal core directly, and then the heat of LED will be dissipated into the air much faster and more efficient than conventional MCPCB.

Heat Sink

2. If only the LED pad can be made as SinkPAD?

Of course no, the pads of other chips or components also can be designed as Sink PAD, one of the most common is the IC pad. In some designs, IC needs to pass through the large current and it will emit a lot of heat, it would be best to design its pad as a thermal conductive pad at this time.

SinkPad Board after SMT

3. What is the thermal conductivity of a SinkPAD ?

The thermal conductivity could be 235 W/m.k to 400 W/m.k.

4. Can we use SinkPAD technology for any LED packages?

No, it’s designed to be used with the LEDs which has electrically neutral thermal pad. Such as Cree XPL/XML/XHP/XPG/XPE/XPC/XTE/XBD, Luxeon Rebel & Luxeon M from Philips Lumiled, Oslon SSL & Oslon square from Osram, Nichia N219, Seoul Semiconductor Z5P / Z5M, Samsung 3535, Bridgelux SM4, etc.

5. What is the Manufacturing Process for the SinkPAD Board?

Manufacturing process is the same as conventional MCPCB, please click here to see the manufacturing process status.

Shinkpad

6. How does SinkPAD Board compare to Conventional MCPCB?

Conventional MCPCB uses a thermally conductive dielectric layer to bond circuit layer with base metal (Aluminum or Copper) layer. The key to thermal performance of MCPCB lies in its dielectric layer. Even though thermally conductive dielectric has higher thermal performance compared to normal FR4, it’s still a weakest link in the conduction thermal path.

SinkPAD Board approach overcomes this limitation, which provides “Direct thermal path”, the LED Chip can directly contact the copper substrate, there’s no dielectric between LED thermal pads and the metal base, then the thermal resistance is very small.

7. Can the aluminum be made as the base of Heat Sink?

Actually yes, however, regarding of current technical conditions, since aluminum or aluminum alloy cannot directly react with acid, the reaction process is too complex and difficult to control, which will increase the difficulty of etching the LED pad platform.

Considering the scrap rate, the process of etching LED pad platform with aluminum is more complex and the overall cost is higher, and the copper also dissipates heat much better than aluminum, so copper is generally used as the substrate for Heat Sink in our company.

Copper Substrate

8. Does SinkPAD Board require special PCB design?

No, we can use your existing MCPCB Gerber data.

Welcome to contact us if you have other questions about Sink Pad Board. 

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If only the LED pad can be made as SinkPAD?
星期五, 4 9 月, 2020

According to our earlier blogs about SinkPAD introduction,

we can know that the high power LED’s thermal pad can touch the convexity area of copper core directly, so the heat of LED will be dissipated into the air much faster and more efficient than conventional MCPCB, but if only the LED pad can be designed as SinkPAD?

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Stack-up-s.jpg

Actually the pads of other chips or components also can be designed as SinkPAD, one of the most common is the IC pad. In some designs, IC needs to pass through the large current, so it will emit a lot of heat.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Contrast-images-s.jpg

In order to dissipate heat in time, some customers will directly design the IC solder pad as sinkpad to directly contact the copper base, so that the life cycle will be longer.

As you can see the following picture, it’s the copper layer after doing Etching, the area with blue film we normally named it as convexity, the thermal pad of IC will touch the convexity directly to achieve the purpose of dissipating the heat very fast.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Convexity-s.jpg

If you have other questions about SinkPAD, welcome to contact Tammy (Email:sales9@bestpcbs.com), she will prove you professional suggestions and solutions.

In the end, I’d like to share the manufacturing process of SinkPAD Board with you, please Click here: SinkPAD-Board-Manufacturing-Process-Best-Technology.pdf

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