pcb
Home > Blog

Posts Tagged ‘aluminum pcb’

What is aluminum pcb depaneling?
Friday, October 11th, 2024

In the electronic manufacturing process, it is usually necessary to divide a large area of ​​aluminum-based PCB into multiple small pieces so that they can be installed in different electronic devices. Different electronic devices have different requirements for the size of PCBs. Through depaneling, large-area aluminum-based PCBs can be cut into sizes suitable for specific electronic devices.

What is the meaning of depaneling?

Aluminum PCB depaneling refers to cutting multiple circuit boards arranged in a row from a large board into separate small boards. This process is to divide a large aluminum printed circuit board (PCB) into multiple independent and fully functional circuit boards for subsequent assembly and use.

What is aluminum pcb depaneling?

Aluminum PCB depaneling is an important link in the production process of electronic devices, which can improve production efficiency and circuit board flexibility.

What are the methods of PCB depaneling?

There are many ways to depanel aluminum PCBs. Common depaneling methods include:

  • 1. ‌V-cut depaneling‌: Use a V-shaped blade to cut a V-shaped groove on the PCB board, and then separate the aluminum PCB along the groove by external force. This method is suitable for smaller aluminum PCB boards and fine dividing lines.
  • 2. ‌Sawtooth depaneling‌: Cut the aluminum PCB board with a sawtooth cutting tool to form multiple small panels, and then separate the panels by pressure or vibration. This method is suitable for aluminum PCB boards with larger areas.
What is aluminum pcb depaneling?
  • 3. ‌Laser depaneling‌: Use a high-energy-density laser beam to accurately cut the aluminum PCB, which is suitable for production environments with high precision requirements and high efficiency.
  • 4. ‌Chemical corrosion depaneling‌: Corrode the aluminum PCB with a chemical corrosive agent to form a dividing line, and then separate the panels by physical methods.

What is the process of depaneling PCB?

The aluminum PCB depaneling process varies depending on the depaneling method. The common aluminum PCB depaneling methods and processes are as follows:

Manual depaneling

  • Preparation: Check whether the aluminum PCB board meets the conditions for manual depaneling, such as confirming that there are no stress-sensitive components such as SMD (Surface Mounted Devices) on the board, and prepare suitable fixtures and operating space.
  • Positioning and fixing: Place the aluminum PCB concatenated or assembled boards that need to be separated on a stable workbench and fix them with fixtures to ensure that the boards do not move during the separation process. For aluminum PCB boards with V-grooves, align the V-grooves with the direction that is convenient for force application, and ensure that the board is placed in the correct direction and position to facilitate the separation operation.
  • Separation operation: The operator uses both hands or simple tools (such as tweezers, etc., and small cutting tools may be used in some special cases, but they must be operated with caution to avoid damaging the board) along the V-groove to break or separate the aluminum PCB board into individual small boards with appropriate force. During the operation, pay attention to controlling the force and direction to avoid damage to the board due to uneven force or wrong direction.
What is aluminum pcb depaneling?

V-cut board separation machine separation

  • Equipment debugging: Turn on the power of the V-cut board separation machine, and adjust the upper guide knife position and lower knife height of the board separation machine according to the thickness of the aluminum PCB board, the depth and width of the V-groove and other parameters to ensure that the spacing between the upper and lower knives is appropriate and the aluminum PCB board can be accurately cut.
  • Upper board positioning: carefully place the aluminum PCB board with V groove on the workbench of the V-cut board splitter, ensure that the V groove of the aluminum PCB board fits tightly with the lower knife of the board splitter, and the position of the board is accurate to avoid deviation during the cutting process.
  • Board splitting operation: start the V-cut board splitter manually, electrically or pneumatically, so that the blade cuts along the V groove of the aluminum PCB board. During the cutting process, pay attention to the cutting situation to ensure that the cutting depth is moderate and will not cause over-cutting or incomplete cutting of the aluminum PCB board.

What is the manufacturing process of aluminum PCB?

The manufacturing process of aluminum substrate PCB mainly includes the following steps: cutting, drilling, dry and wet film imaging, etching, surface treatment and final inspection. ‌

  • 1. Cutting: Cut the large-sized incoming materials into the size required for production, pay attention to the protection of the aluminum and copper surfaces, and avoid scratches and board edge delamination.
  • 2. Drilling: Position the holes in the board to ensure the correct number and size, and avoid scratches on the board and deviation of the hole position.
  • 3. Wet and dry film imaging: Present the parts required for making the circuit on the board, and pay attention to whether the circuit is open and whether the alignment is deviated after development.
  • 4. Etching: Remove the uncovered parts to form the circuit pattern, and pay attention to the quality and stability of the circuit after etching.
  • 5. Surface treatment: Perform necessary surface treatment on the circuit board, such as tin spraying, to improve the performance and appearance of the circuit board.
  • 6. Final inspection: Perform a final inspection on the completed circuit board to ensure that the quality meets the requirements.

What are the advantages of aluminum PCB?

The main advantages of aluminum substrate PCB include:

  • Excellent heat dissipation performance: The aluminum substrate uses high thermal conductivity aluminum alloy as the core material, which can quickly conduct and dissipate heat, thereby effectively reducing the operating temperature of components.
  • ‌Lightweight design‌: Compared with traditional FR4 substrates, aluminum substrates have lighter weight, which is particularly important in weight-sensitive fields such as aerospace and automobiles, helping to reduce the weight of the overall equipment and improve energy efficiency and operating performance‌.
What is aluminum pcb depaneling?
  • ‌Good mechanical properties‌: Aluminum substrates have high strength and hardness, providing good support and protection for electronic components. At the same time, its excellent impact resistance and vibration resistance enable it to adapt to various complex working environments and ensure the stable operation of the equipment‌.
  • ‌Excellent electrical performance‌: Aluminum substrates have excellent insulation and voltage resistance, which can meet the electrical requirements of electronic equipment in various working environments and provide stable electrical support for the equipment‌.
  • ‌Environmental protection‌: Aluminum substrates are made of environmentally friendly materials, there is no pollution in the production process, and waste is easy to recycle and dispose, which is fully in line with the current trend of green environmental protection‌.
  • ‌Diverse application forms‌: There are many types of aluminum substrates, including flexible aluminum substrates, hybrid aluminum substrates, multi-layer aluminum substrates, etc., suitable for different application needs.

What are the disadvantages of aluminum PCB?

The main disadvantages of aluminum PCB include high cost, difficult process, electrical strength and withstand voltage problems, mismatched thermal conductivity test, inconsistent material specifications, and more defective products. ‌

First, the price of aluminum PCB is relatively high, usually accounting for more than 30% of the product price. This is because the production of aluminum PCB requires the use of high-purity aluminum materials and special processing technology, all of which push up the cost. ‌

Second, the process of aluminum PCB is difficult, especially when it is made into a double-sided board, the process complexity is higher, and it is easy to have problems in electrical strength and withstand voltage. In addition, the mismatch of thermal conductivity test methods and results of aluminum PCB is also a problem. ‌

In addition, the material specifications of aluminum PCB have not yet been unified, and there are multiple standards such as CPCA industry standards, national standards, and international standards, which brings certain uncertainties to production and application. ‌

Why is aluminum no longer used in integrated circuits?

The main reason why aluminum is no longer used in integrated circuits is that copper has replaced aluminum as an interconnect metal material. Copper has lower resistivity and better anti-electromigration performance than aluminum, which makes copper more reliable and effective in high-speed integrated circuits. ‌

Specifically, aluminum may experience electromigration under long-term current, that is, aluminum atoms migrate inside the wire, causing the wire to break or form voids, which in turn causes the integrated circuit to fail. In addition, as the interconnection spacing decreases, the resistance of the aluminum wire increases and the capacitance between the wires increases, resulting in increased RC delay, which is not conducive to high-speed integrated circuits.

Copper has a lower resistivity than aluminum, can transmit current more efficiently, and can carry more current in thinner metal wires. Copper also has higher electromigration resistance than aluminum, making copper interconnects more reliable under high current conditions. These advantages make copper a preferred material for advanced integrated circuit technology.

Aluminum-based PCB depaneling is an important link in the electronic manufacturing process, which directly affects the quality and performance of electronic equipment. By selecting the appropriate depaneling method, controlling the depaneling accuracy, and avoiding damage to the PCB, the quality and efficiency of aluminum-based PCB depaneling can be effectively improved.

You may also like

What is aluminum base pcb board? How to choose?
Wednesday, September 25th, 2024

As a new type of PCB material, aluminum base pcb board is gradually becoming a popular choice in the electronics field with its excellent performance and wide application fields.

What is aluminum base material PCB?

Aluminum base material PCB (Printed Circuit Board) refers to a special type of PCB that uses aluminum as the substrate material. This PCB usually includes three main parts:

What is aluminum base pcb board? How to choose?
  • 1. Circuit layer: This is the part where the circuit pattern is installed, usually a layer of copper foil, which is etched to form a circuit path.
  • 2. Insulating thermal conductive layer: Located between the circuit layer and the metal base layer, this layer of material not only needs to provide electrical insulation between circuits, but also has good thermal conductivity to transfer the heat generated when the circuit is working to the metal base layer.
  • 3. Metal base layer: Usually a layer of aluminum plate, its function is to quickly dissipate the heat from the circuit layer.

Due to its good thermal conductivity, aluminum base PCB is very popular in application scenarios that require efficient heat dissipation, in LED lighting, power management, automotive electronics, communication equipment, and other electronic devices that require high power output and good thermal management.

Compared with traditional FR-4 fiberglass PCBs, aluminum base pcb boards can manage heat more effectively, thereby improving the reliability and life of electronic components. ‌

Why Aluminum is used in PCB?

There are several main reasons for using aluminum in PCBs (printed circuit boards):

1. Good heat dissipation performance

  • High thermal conductivity: Aluminum is an excellent thermal conductive material with a relatively high thermal conductivity. During the operation of the PCB, electronic components will generate heat, and the aluminum substrate can quickly conduct this heat away to avoid damage to electronic components caused by excessive local temperatures, thereby improving the stability and reliability of electronic equipment and extending the service life of components.
  • Uniform heat dissipation: The aluminum substrate can evenly distribute heat across the entire PCB, prevent hot spots from concentrating, and reduce the risk of failures caused by local overheating.

2. Higher mechanical strength

  • Vibration resistance: Aluminum has a certain rigidity and toughness, and can withstand the vibration and impact that electronic equipment may be subjected to during use, which can ensure that the PCB will not be easily damaged by external forces.
  • Dimensional stability: The dimensional changes of aluminum substrates are relatively small under different temperature and humidity conditions, which can maintain the structural stability of PCBs and ensure the welding reliability of electronic components.

3. Good insulation performance

  • The surface of the specially treated aluminum substrate has a good insulation layer, which can effectively prevent circuit short circuits and leakage. At the same time, the insulation layer can also withstand a certain voltage to meet the electrical insulation requirements of different electronic equipment.
  • Good compatibility with other insulating materials: It can be well combined with the packaging materials and welding materials of various electronic components to ensure the overall performance of electronic equipment.

4. Good processing performance

  • Strong processability: Aluminum substrates can be made using traditional PCB processing techniques, such as etching, drilling, cutting, etc., which is convenient and fast and can meet different design requirements.
  • Surface processability: The surface of the aluminum substrate can be processed in a variety of ways, such as copper plating, gold plating, tin spraying, etc., to improve welding performance and corrosion resistance.

5. Cost-effectiveness

  • Relatively low material cost: Aluminum is a common metal material with abundant resources and relatively stable prices. Compared with some high-performance heat dissipation materials, the cost of aluminum substrates is low, which can reduce the manufacturing cost of electronic equipment while ensuring performance.
  • High production efficiency: Due to the good processing performance of aluminum substrates, large-scale automated production can be achieved, which can improve production efficiency and further reduce costs.

How to choose aluminum base pcb board?

Choosing the right aluminum base pcb board is crucial to the performance and reliability of electronic equipment. In the selection process, multiple factors need to be considered, including glass transition temperature, heat resistance, flatness, thermal expansion coefficient and electrical performance.

(I) Glass transition temperature

Glass transition temperature (Tg) is one of the important parameters for measuring the heat resistance of PCB substrates. Generally speaking, substrates with higher Tg are more stable in high temperature environments and are not prone to deformation or damage.

What is aluminum base pcb board? How to choose?

For application scenarios with higher operating temperatures, aluminum base pcb boards with Tg higher than the circuit operating temperature should be selected. The Tg of the current mainstream FR-4 board is about 130-140 degrees. If the circuit operating temperature is close to or exceeds this value, it is necessary to consider choosing an aluminum substrate material with a higher Tg.

(II) Heat resistance

Aluminum-based PCB boards should have high heat resistance to ensure that they can still work normally in high temperature environments.

Generally, a heat resistance of 250℃/50S is required. This means that the board will not undergo significant performance changes under short-term high temperature exposure.

(III) Flatness

In SMT (surface mount technology), it is required to use boards with a small degree of curvature as much as possible. Aluminum base PCB boards with good flatness can ensure accurate installation of components and good welding quality. If the flatness of the board is poor, it may cause the components to be installed loosely, and even cause problems such as cold soldering and short circuits during the welding process.

(IV) Thermal expansion coefficient

The thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) is one of the key factors to consider when selecting aluminum base pcb boards. Due to the inconsistent thermal expansion coefficient in the thickness direction, it is easy to cause PCB deformation, and in severe cases, it will cause the metallized holes to break, resulting in damage to components.

The thermal expansion coefficient of the aluminum substrate is 50×10⁻⁶cm/cm℃, which is smaller than that of the general FR-4 board and closer to the thermal expansion coefficient of copper foil. When selecting, try to choose a board with a low thermal expansion coefficient and matching other components to reduce the thermal stress caused by the difference in thermal expansion coefficient.

(V) Electrical performance

For high-frequency circuits, materials with high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss are required. Insulation resistance, withstand voltage strength, and arc resistance must meet product requirements.

In communication electronic equipment, high-frequency amplifiers, filters and other circuits have high requirements for electrical performance, and aluminum base pcb boards with good electrical performance need to be selected to ensure accurate signal transmission and stability.

In summary, according to application requirements, factors such as glass transition temperature, heat resistance, flatness, thermal expansion coefficient and electrical performance can be comprehensively considered to select a suitable aluminum base pcb board to ensure the performance and reliability of electronic equipment.

Which is a major disadvantage of aluminum?

Although aluminum has many advantages, it also has some inherent disadvantages as a material that may limit its use in certain applications.

  • 1. Lower conductivity than copper: Although aluminum has a relatively high conductivity, it is still lower than copper.
  • 2. Easy to deform: Aluminum has a relatively low hardness, so it is more likely to undergo plastic deformation when subjected to external forces.
  • 3. Cold flow phenomenon: Aluminum becomes more brittle at low temperatures, and may exhibit cold flow (creep) phenomenon in high temperature environments, that is, slow deformation under constant load.
  • 4. Difficult welding: The surface of aluminum is prone to form an oxide film, which affects the quality of welding and makes aluminum welding more difficult than other metals.
  • 5. Corrosion resistance condition restrictions: Although aluminum itself has a certain degree of corrosion resistance, aluminum may accelerate corrosion in certain specific environments, such as salt water, alkaline solutions or halogens.
  • 6. Connection reliability: When aluminum is in direct contact with other metals such as copper, corrosion problems may occur in some cases due to electrochemical reactions, especially in humid environments, which may affect the long-term reliability of the connector.
  • 7. Large thermal expansion coefficient: Aluminum has a relatively high thermal expansion coefficient, which means that in an environment with large temperature changes, aluminum products may change in size due to thermal expansion and contraction, which may cause problems for applications that require precise matching.

What is the dielectric layer of aluminum PCB?

The dielectric layer of aluminum PCB is an insulating layer, which is located between the circuit layer and the metal layer and plays a role of isolation and insulation.

This insulating layer uses a thermally conductive insulating material that can quickly transfer the heat generated by the LED to the aluminum substrate. At the same time, the thermal resistance of this thermally conductive insulating material is a key factor that affects the efficiency of heat transfer.

What is aluminum base pcb board? How to choose?

In the design of aluminum substrates, the insulating layer is an indispensable part, which ensures the normal operation of the circuit while allowing heat to be effectively transferred to the aluminum base layer, thereby improving the thermal and mechanical properties of the entire structure.

Why don’t we use aluminum instead of copper?

The main reasons for not using aluminum instead of copper in PCBs (printed circuit boards) include the following:

  • ‌Conductivity difference‌: Copper has significantly better conductivity than aluminum. This means that in circuits that require good conductivity, using copper can provide more stable current transmission‌.
  • ‌Thermal conductivity difference‌: Copper substrates have higher thermal conductivity than aluminum substrates, which means that copper performs better in transmission efficiency, heat dissipation, and service life.
  • ‌Resistance difference‌: Since copper has a higher density than aluminum, copper generally has lower resistance than aluminum. Using copper can reduce power loss and improve power transmission efficiency‌.
  • ‌Weight difference‌: Copper has a higher density per unit area, resulting in copper PCBs weighing much more than aluminum PCBs under the same design. But if weight is not the main consideration, copper is widely used for its excellent electrical properties‌.
  • ‌Production process‌: The production process of aluminum substrate PCBs is relatively simple, but this does not mean that aluminum is a better choice. In some cases, although aluminum substrates may be produced faster, copper substrates are preferred in many applications due to their superior electrical properties‌.

In summary, although aluminum as a lightweight, low-cost material may have advantages in some cases, copper is still the preferred material in PCB manufacturing due to its better electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, low resistance and applicability in most applications.

In short, as a new type of PCB material, aluminum base pcb board has the advantages of excellent heat dissipation, high mechanical strength, good electrical properties and environmental protection and recyclability. With the continuous development and progress of electronic technology, market demand will continue to increase. BEST Technoloby, as a professional aluminum substrate manufacturer, has rich manufacturing experience. The aluminum substrates produced have been tested by the market for a long time, and the service quality is in the first echelon. Choose us and you will get the best experience.

You may also like

Aluminum pcb suppliers, High Quality&Customization
Monday, September 23rd, 2024

In the rapidly developing electronics industry, aluminum substrates, as a key electronic component carrier, have a direct impact on the reliability and stability of electronic products through their quality and performance. Choosing a reliable aluminum pcb suppliers is crucial for electronics manufacturers.

What is an aluminum substrate?

Aluminum substrate, the full name of which is aluminum-based copper clad laminate, has good heat dissipation, electrical insulation and mechanical processing performance. It is widely used in LED lighting, power modules, automotive electronics, communication equipment and other fields.

Aluminum pcb suppliers, High Quality&Customization

In these fields, aluminum substrates can effectively dissipate the heat generated by electronic components quickly, thereby ensuring the normal working temperature of electronic components and extending their service life. At the same time, the high insulation performance of aluminum substrates can prevent the occurrence of safety problems such as electrical short circuits and leakage.

In addition, the mechanical processing performance of aluminum substrates also enables it to adapt to various complex electronic equipment structure design requirements.

How to choose an aluminum pcb suppliers?

1. Conduct market research

  • Before choosing an aluminum pcb supplier, you need to conduct sufficient market research. Understand the product quality, technical strength, production capacity, service quality and price of different suppliers, and make comparisons and analyses.
  • You can get more information about suppliers through online searches, industry exhibitions, and consulting industry insiders. At the same time, you can also refer to the evaluations and recommendations of other customers to understand the reputation and credibility of the supplier.

2. On-site inspection of suppliers

  • After determining some potential suppliers, you can conduct on-site inspections. On-site inspections can give you a more intuitive understanding of the supplier’s production equipment, production processes, quality control systems, and management levels.
  • During the on-site inspection, you can communicate with the supplier’s technical personnel and management personnel to understand their technical strength and service level. At the same time, you can also view the supplier’s product samples to understand the quality and performance of the products.

3. Conduct sample testing

  • Before selecting an aluminum pcb supplier, you can ask the supplier to provide samples for testing. Sample testing can give you a more intuitive understanding of the supplier’s product quality and performance, and whether it meets your needs.
  • When conducting sample testing, you need to test according to your actual use requirements, such as heat dissipation performance, electrical insulation performance, mechanical processing performance, etc. At the same time, you also need to check the appearance quality of the sample to ensure that there are no obvious scratches, stains, and defects.

How strong is BEST Technology?

BEST Technology has a strict quality control system. From raw material procurement to production and processing to product testing, every link is strictly controlled. And BEST Technology’s products have passed many international certifications, such as ISO9001 quality management system certification, UL certification, etc.

Aluminum pcb suppliers, High Quality&Customization

BEST Technology also has a strong technical R&D team, which can continuously launch new products and technologies to meet the needs of the market and customers. For example, the high thermal conductivity aluminum substrate they developed has a heat dissipation performance that is more than 30% higher than that of traditional aluminum substrates, and has been widely praised by customers.

BEST Technology also has advanced production equipment and process technology, using automated production lines and advanced surface treatment technology to ensure product production efficiency and quality. Their production capacity is in a leading position in the industry and can ensure on-time delivery of orders.

What are the classifications of aluminum-based PCBs?

‌Aluminum-based PCB‌ (aluminum-based copper-clad laminate) is mainly divided into the following categories:

  • ‌General-purpose aluminum-based copper-clad laminate‌: The insulation layer of this type of aluminum-based copper-clad laminate is composed of epoxy glass cloth bonding sheets, which is suitable for the manufacture of general electronic products, providing basic electrical insulation and certain heat dissipation performance.
  • ‌High heat dissipation aluminum-based copper-clad laminate‌: Its insulating layer is composed of highly thermally conductive epoxy resin or other resins, which is designed to provide better heat dissipation and is suitable for high-power electronic devices.
  • ‌Aluminum-based copper-clad laminate for high-frequency circuits‌: The insulating layer of this type of copper-clad laminate is composed of polyolefin resin or polyimide resin glass cloth bonding sheet, which is particularly suitable for electronic devices that require high-speed signal transmission and high integration.

What are the characteristics of aluminum-based PCBs?

The characteristics of aluminum-based PCBs mainly include excellent heat dissipation, dimensional stability, insulation, durability, lightness and environmental protection. ‌

Aluminum pcb suppliers, High Quality&Customization
  • ‌Excellent heat dissipation‌: Aluminum-based PCBs have excellent thermal conductivity because they use aluminum as the base material, which can effectively transfer heat from heating devices or important devices, thereby improving the overall performance of the product‌.
  • ‌Dimensional stability‌: The dimensional stability of aluminum substrates is higher. Compared with printed boards made of insulating materials, the dimensional changes of aluminum substrates are smaller, which helps to improve the reliability and durability of products‌.
  • ‌Insulation‌: Aluminum substrates have good insulation properties and can provide the electrical isolation required by electronic devices. At the same time, they are hard and can replace easily broken ceramic plates, effectively reducing the actual area required for printed circuit boards, so that products do not need to install radiators, etc., thereby improving the heat dissipation of products and improving product efficiency and reducing costs.‌
  • ‌Durability‌: Due to its high hardness, aluminum substrates can reduce the risk of accidental damage during production, handling and daily use, and provide strength, toughness and durability that glass fiber substrates cannot provide.‌
  • ‌Lightweight‌: Aluminum substrates enhance the strength and elasticity of products without adding extra weight, which helps to reduce the overall weight of products.‌
  • ‌Environmental protection‌: Aluminum is non-toxic and recyclable, which helps to reduce the impact of electronic waste on the environment.‌

In summary, aluminum-based PCBs provide electronic products with multiple advantages such as efficient heat dissipation, dimensional stability, excellent electrical performance, durability, lightness and environmental protection through their unique physical and chemical properties, making aluminum-based PCBs widely used in high-end electronic devices.‌

What are the application scenarios of aluminum-based PCBs?​

The application scenarios of aluminum-based PCBs are very wide, mainly including the following aspects:

  • ‌High-power LED lighting‌: Aluminum-based PCBs can quickly and effectively transfer the heat generated by LEDs to the external environment, reduce the impact of high temperature on the life of LED chips, and improve the life and reliability of lamps.
  • ‌Power supply equipment‌: Such as switching power supplies, DC/AC converters, voltage regulators and other high-power density power modules, aluminum-based PCBs can quickly dissipate heat to ensure stable operation of the circuit.
  • ‌Audio equipment‌: The heating elements in audio devices such as audio amplifiers, power amplifiers, and preamplifiers can be well managed by aluminum-based PCBs.
  • ‌Communication electronic equipment‌: Components in communication systems such as high-frequency devices, filters, signal transmission and reception circuits, etc., use aluminum-based PCBs to improve system reliability.
  • ‌Computers and peripherals‌: Some areas on the motherboard, power supply modules, and hardware such as graphics cards may use aluminum-based PCBs to improve the heat dissipation effect.
  • ‌Office automation equipment‌: Motor drivers and other components that require effective heat dissipation.
  • ‌Automotive electronics‌: Including electronic speed regulators, ignition devices, power controllers and other vehicle-mounted applications.
  • ‌Industrial control field‌: High heat density circuit boards inside industrial control equipment such as frequency converters and inverters.

Aluminum-based PCBs are widely used in many fields due to their excellent heat dissipation and electrical insulation properties, especially in situations where efficient heat dissipation and stable operation are required.

Choosing a high-quality aluminum pcb supplier is crucial for electronics manufacturers. When choosing a supplier, it is necessary to consider the key points comprehensively. Choose a suitable aluminum pcb suppliers through market research, field visits and sample testing.

You may also like

Aluminum pcb manufacturer, High Quality&Customization
Friday, September 20th, 2024

In today’s rapidly developing electronic technology, aluminum substrates, as a key electronic component carrier, play a vital role. Aluminum substrate manufacturers are an indispensable backbone in this field. They provide high-quality products to the electronics industry with advanced technology and strict quality control.

Reasons for the development of aluminum substrate

The continuous updating and improvement of aluminum substrate technology has provided a strong driving force for the development of manufacturers. In terms of thermal conductivity, in order to meet the application needs of different fields, the thermal conductivity of aluminum substrates has been continuously improved, and has now reached more than 180W/mK.

Aluminum pcb manufacturer, High Quality&Customization

In terms of molding and processing technology, commonly used molding processes include cutting, punching and bending, and the continuously optimized molding and processing technology has improved the production efficiency and product quality of aluminum substrates.

In addition, technological innovation has also promoted the diversified development of aluminum substrate products, such as ultra-thin aluminum substrates, high-frequency and high-speed aluminum substrates, flexible aluminum substrates, composite functional aluminum substrates, environmentally friendly aluminum substrates and other new products have emerged continuously, meeting the needs of different industries and application fields.

What are the types of aluminum substrates?

(I) Flexible aluminum substrate

The material system of flexible aluminum substrate is usually a polyimide resin system with ceramic fillers, which can provide excellent electrical insulation, flexibility and thermal conductivity.

For example, in some portable electronic devices that require special shapes, flexible aluminum substrates can better adapt to the internal space of the device, eliminating expensive fixtures, cables and connectors, and reducing overall costs.

At the same time, due to its good flexibility, it can also play an important role in some bendable electronic products, such as foldable displays.

(II) Multilayer aluminum substrate

In the high-performance power supply market, multilayer aluminum substrates are made of multiple layers of thermally conductive dielectrics. These structures have one or more layers of circuits buried in the dielectric, and blind holes are used as thermal vias or signal paths.

Aluminum pcb manufacturer, High Quality&Customization

Although it is more expensive and less efficient to transfer heat with a single-layer design, they provide a simple and effective heat dissipation solution for more complex designs. For example, in some high-end server power supplies, industrial power supplies and other fields, the heat dissipation requirements are extremely high. Multilayer aluminum substrates can meet the heat dissipation needs of these complex electronic devices and ensure the stable operation of the equipment.

(III) Through-hole aluminum substrate

In the most complex structures, a layer of aluminum can form the “core” of a multi-layer thermal structure.

Before lamination, the aluminum is pre-plated and filled with dielectrics. Thermal materials or sub-assemblies can be laminated to both sides of the aluminum using thermal bonding materials. Once laminated, the completed assembly is similar to a traditional multi-layer aluminum substrate through drilling.

The plated through-holes pass through the gaps in the aluminum to maintain electrical insulation. Alternatively, the copper core can allow direct electrical connection as well as insulating through-holes. This complex structure makes it play an important role in some high-end electronic devices with extremely high requirements for electrical insulation.

What is the dielectric material of aluminum PCB?

The dielectric material selection of aluminum PCB is diverse, designed to meet different performance requirements. Epoxy resin is widely used for its toughness and heat resistance, while polyimide is known for its high temperature stability and chemical stability.

Polystyrene is favored for its low dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent, while acrylic ester is selected for its excellent light transmittance. In addition, ceramic materials such as alumina, silicon nitride, zirconium oxide, etc. are also commonly used dielectric materials for aluminum PCBs due to their excellent insulation, thermal conductivity, oxidation resistance, and high-temperature stability.

Different dielectric materials have different dielectric constants and thermal properties, which are particularly important for applications in high-frequency and high-temperature environments. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and ceramic substrates are particularly suitable for high-frequency and high-temperature environments due to their high temperature resistance and low dielectric constant.

In summary, there are a wide variety of dielectric materials for aluminum PCBs, including epoxy resin, polyimide, polystyrene, acrylic ester, alumina, silicon nitride, zirconium oxide, etc. These materials are selected based on their respective advantages to meet the performance requirements of aluminum PCBs in specific applications.

What is the thermal resistance of aluminum PCB?

The thermal resistance of aluminum PCBs ranges from 1℃/W to 2℃/W. ‌This data is in sharp contrast to the thermal resistance of FR4 PCBs, which ranges from 20℃/W to 22℃/W.

Aluminum pcb manufacturer, High Quality&Customization

This shows that aluminum PCB is significantly better than FR4 PCB in heat dissipation performance. Aluminum material has good heat dissipation effect, which can effectively reduce the heat generated by electronic equipment during operation and keep components running at a suitable working temperature, thereby improving the stability and service life of the equipment.

What are the production processes of aluminum substrates?

  • First, the material is cut, and the incoming material inspection is strengthened to ensure that the sheet with a protective film on the aluminum surface is used. After cutting, there is no need to bake the sheet, and it should be handled with care, paying attention to protecting the protective film on the aluminum base surface.
  • Next is drilling. The drilling parameters are the same as those of FR-4 sheet materials. At the same time, the aperture tolerance must be strictly controlled, especially for 4OZ-based Cu. Pay attention to controlling the generation of flash, and drill with the copper skin facing up.
  • Then enter the dry film optical imaging link, including incoming material inspection, grinding, filming, board clapping, exposure and development.
  • When inspecting the board, the circuit surface must be inspected according to MI requirements for various contents, and the dry film on the aluminum base surface must not have film falling or damage.
  • In the etching process, since the copper base is generally 4OZ, etching is difficult. After the aluminum surface without protective film is taken out of the film stripping liquid, it should be washed with water in time to prevent the alkali solution from biting the aluminum surface.
  • The production process of the green oil process is grinding the plate (only brushing the copper surface) → silk screen printing green oil (first time) → pre-baking → silk screen printing green oil (second time) → pre-baking → exposure → development → grinding machine pickling soft brush → post-curing → next process.
  • Before spraying tin, tear off the protective film of the aluminum substrate with protective film, hold the edge of the plate with both hands, and it is strictly forbidden to touch the inside of the plate directly with your hands. Pay attention to the operation to prevent scratches.

What are the characteristics of aluminum substrate manufacturers?

(I) Good processing and production effect

Aluminum substrate manufacturers can make full use of the material properties of the aluminum substrate itself according to the actual processing size to bring better processing and production effects for building material design.

(II) Stable and reliable quality

Aluminum substrate manufacturers focus on product quality and stability, and use high-quality raw materials and strict production standards. They have a complete production system and quality control system to ensure the quality and stability of products.

(III) Advanced production technology

Aluminum substrate manufacturers use advanced production technology and equipment to ensure product accuracy and stability. They have professional sales and technical teams that can provide high-quality products and technical support.

(IV) Energy saving and environmental protection

Aluminum substrate manufacturers focus on the energy saving and environmental protection of their products, and use energy-saving and environmentally friendly materials and production processes. They have strong R&D and technical strength, and continue to launch new energy-saving and environmentally friendly products and technological innovations.

What is the market prospect of aluminum substrate manufacturers?

The continuous emergence of new generation electronic products, such as smart phones, tablets, wearable devices, etc., has higher and higher requirements for heat dissipation performance and thinness. Aluminum substrates, as a metal-based copper-clad laminate with good heat dissipation function, just meet these needs.

The development of emerging technologies such as 5G has also brought new opportunities to the aluminum substrate market. Aluminum substrates, as a metal-based copper-clad laminate with good heat dissipation and electrical properties, just meet the needs of 5G communication technology.

The trend of lightweight vehicles and the expansion of the new energy vehicle market have also brought new opportunities to the aluminum substrate market. Aluminum substrates, as a metal-based copper-clad laminate with the characteristics of lightweight, high strength and corrosion resistance, just meet the needs of lightweight vehicles.

In short, aluminum substrate manufacturers play an important role in the electronics field. They provide high-quality aluminum substrate products to the electronics industry with advanced technology, strict quality control, continuous innovation and research and development, and good customer service.

You may also like

What is an aluminum pcb? How is it made?
Friday, September 20th, 2024

In today’s era of rapid technological development, the performance and reliability of electronic equipment are attracting more and more attention. Among many electronic components, aluminum pcb have become an indispensable part of the electronics field with their excellent performance and wide application.

How do you make Aluminum PCB?

What is an aluminum pcb? How is it made?
  • 1. Cutting: Cut large-sized incoming materials into the size required for production. The process is picking materials-cutting.
  • 2. Drilling: Positioning and drilling holes in the plate to assist the subsequent production process and customer assembly. The drilling process is pinning-drilling-board inspection.
  • 3. Dry/wet film imaging: The part required for making the circuit is presented on the plate. The dry/wet film imaging process is grinding the plate-filming-exposure-development.
  • 4. Acid/alkaline etching: After dry/wet film imaging, the required circuit part is retained and the excess part outside the circuit is removed. The acid/alkaline etching process is etching-film stripping-drying-board inspection.
  • 5. Silkscreen solder mask and characters: solder mask is to protect the circuit that does not need soldering, preventing tin from entering and causing short circuit. Characters are used for marking. The silkscreen solder mask and character process is silkscreen – pre-baking – exposure – development – characters.
  • 6. V-CUT, gong board: V-CUT is to cut the single PCS circuit and the whole PNL board to leave a small part connected for easy packaging and removal. The gong board is to remove the excess part of the circuit board. The process of V-CUT and gong board is V-CUT – gong board – tearing the protective film – removing the flash.
  • 7. Test, OSP: Circuit test is to detect whether the completed circuit is working normally. Voltage resistance test is to detect whether the completed circuit can withstand the specified voltage environment. OSP allows the circuit to be better soldered. The test, OSP process is circuit test – voltage resistance test – OSP.
  • 8. FQC, FQA, packaging, shipment: FQC conducts full inspection and confirmation of the product, FQA conducts random inspection and verification, and packages and ships to customers as required. The process is FQC-FQA-packaging-shipping.

What are the layers of aluminum PCB?

Aluminum-based circuit boards (PCBs) mainly consist of three layers, namely the circuit layer (copper foil), the insulation layer, and the metal base layer. This structure gives aluminum-based PCBs excellent heat dissipation performance and mechanical strength, making them particularly suitable for applications that require efficient heat dissipation and good mechanical properties.

What is an aluminum pcb? How is it made?

The circuit layer is usually made of copper foil, which is etched to form a printed circuit for assembly and connection of devices. The thickness of the copper foil can be between 1oz and 10oz to ensure the conductivity and load-bearing capacity of the circuit.

The insulation layer is the core technology of aluminum-based PCBs. It uses low thermal resistance thermal insulation materials with a thickness of 0.003″ to 0.006″ inches and has good bonding, insulation and thermal conductivity.

The metal base layer is generally aluminum or copper, which has good thermal conductivity and certain mechanical strength. It can quickly conduct the heat generated during device operation, effectively reduce the operating temperature of the device, and improve the power load and reliability of the module.

In addition, according to the specific application requirements, aluminum clad PCB can be designed as single-sided board, double-sided board or very few multi-layer boards. Single-sided board consists of three-layer structure, while double-sided board adds a circuit layer on this basis, forming a structure of circuit layer, insulation layer, aluminum base, insulation layer, circuit layer.

How thick is aluminum clad PCB?

The thickness of aluminum clad board usually ranges from 0.2mm to 10mm, and the specific choice depends on the number of layers and purpose of the circuit board.

0.2mm to 0.5mm aluminum clad board is suitable for making single-sided circuit boards, 0.5mm to 1.2mm is suitable for double-sided circuit boards, and 1.2mm to 2.0mm is suitable for multi-layer circuit boards.

In addition, common standard thicknesses also include 0.5mm, 1.0mm, 1.5mm, etc. For the PCB board itself, common thicknesses are 0.6mm, 1.0mm, 1.6mm, 2.0mm, 2.4mm, etc.

The standard PCB thickness ranges from 0.031 inches (0.78 mm), 0.062 inches (1.57 mm), and 0.093 inches (2.36 mm), with the most commonly used thickness being 0.063 inches (1.57 mm or 157 mm).

The thickness of conventional PCB finished products is generally between 0.8 mm and 1.6 mm, with 1.6 mm being the most common specification‌.

What are aluminum PCBs used for?

Aluminum substrate PCB (aluminum PCB) is a metal-based copper-clad board with good heat dissipation function. It consists of a circuit layer (copper foil), an insulating layer and a metal base layer. Sometimes it is also designed as a double-sided board or a multi-layer board structure.

The application of aluminum substrates is very wide, covering multiple fields and equipment, mainly including:

  • 1. Audio equipment: used for input and output amplifiers, balanced amplifiers, audio amplifiers, preamplifiers, power amplifiers, etc.
  • 2. Power supply equipment: including switching regulators, DC/AC converters, SW regulators, etc.
  • 3. Communication electronic equipment: suitable for high-frequency amplifiers, filtering appliances, signal transmission circuits, etc.
  • 4. Office automation equipment: such as motor drives, etc.
  • 5. Automotive electronics: used in electronic regulators, igniters, power controllers, etc.
  • 6. Computers: including CPU boards, floppy disk drives, power supply equipment, etc.
  • 7. Power modules: such as inverters, solid-state relays, rectifier bridges, etc.
  • 8. Lamps and lighting: As an advocate of energy-saving lamps, aluminum substrates are increasingly used in various color energy-saving LED lamps.
What is an aluminum pcb? How is it made?

Aluminum substrate PCBs are particularly favored in high-end electronic devices due to their excellent heat dissipation performance and reliability, and are widely used in various occasions that require efficient heat dissipation.

What are the disadvantages of aluminum PCB?

The main disadvantages of aluminum PCBs include high cost, usually only single-sided panels can be made, electrical strength and withstand voltage are more prone to problems, thermal conductivity test methods and test results are not matched, aluminum substrate material specifications are not unified, copper foil thickness does not meet the standard, and there are more defective products and shoddy work. ‌

  • 1. High cost: The price of aluminum substrates usually accounts for more than 30% of the product price, which is significantly higher than other types of PCBs.
  • 2. Production limitations: Aluminum substrates can usually only produce single-sided boards, and the process of producing double-sided boards is more difficult, which limits their use in some applications.
  • 3. Electrical strength and withstand voltage issues: Aluminum substrates are more prone to problems in electrical strength and withstand voltage, which may affect the safety and reliability of the product.
  • 4. Thermal conductivity test and material specification issues: The mismatch between the test methods and test results of thermal conductivity, as well as the lack of unified material specifications for aluminum substrates (there are CPCA industry standards, national standards, and international standards, etc.), all increase the complexity of production and quality control.
  • 5. Copper foil thickness and defective products: Failure to meet the copper foil thickness standards may lead to problems such as burning circuits. At the same time, due to cutting corners and increasing defective products, the quality control of aluminum substrates has become more difficult.

These shortcomings limit the application scope of aluminum substrates to a certain extent and increase the risks of production and use. Therefore, when choosing to use aluminum substrates, it is necessary to comprehensively consider their advantages and disadvantages, as well as specific application requirements and environmental conditions.

What temp can aluminum PCB withstand?‌

The high temperature resistance of aluminum substrates is related to the materials used, manufacturing process and working environment. Under normal circumstances, aluminum substrates can withstand a wide range of temperatures, but the specific temperature resistance is also affected by factors such as solder paste and lamp quality.

The temperature that aluminum substrates can withstand during welding can reach about 400 degrees Celsius, and the welding time is about 30 seconds to 50 seconds, of which the actual melting time is only 10 seconds, which shows that aluminum substrates can withstand higher temperatures in a short period of time without damaging the components.‌

In addition, aluminum substrates, like other types of PCB boards (such as FR4 boards, copper substrates, etc.), can withstand an ambient temperature range of -40℃ to +150℃.

However, in long-term use, the highest temperature that these boards can withstand is between 120℃ and 130℃‌. This shows that although aluminum substrates and other types of PCB boards can work in a wide temperature range, their performance and life will be affected to a certain extent when working in a high temperature environment for a long time.

In short, as an important component in the field of electronics, aluminum substrates have excellent performance and broad application prospects. I believe that in the future, with the continuous advancement of technology, aluminum substrates will play a more important role in the field of electronics.

You may also like

Aluminum PCB LED Strip
Friday, March 20th, 2020

With the development of LED technology, LED power keeps increasing. This is closely related to heat dissipation. In order to resolve heat dissipation of LED with big power, aluminum-based copper-clad laminate is highly applied in led strip field.

Aluminum PCB(metal-based heat dissipation board) is a kind of unique metal-based copper-clad laminate. It has good head conductivity, electrical insulation and machining performance. Single-sided aluminum pcb consists of three layers of structures:circuit layer(copper foil), insulation layer and metal-based layer. Circuit layer requires large current-carrying capability, so we should use thick copper foil(generally 35um to 280um). The insulation layer for heat conduction is the core technology of aluminum pcb. It is general composed of special polymer filled with special ceramic. Small heat resistance, excellent viscoelasticity and anti-aging are all its advantages. And it is also able to bear mechanical and heat stress. Metal-based layer is the supporting component of aluminum pcb, and it needs to have high heat conductivity, so we generally use aluminum board, or copper board(which can provide higher conductivity). And it is suitable for regular machining such as drilling, punching and cutting. Techniques include gold plating, solder levelling, osp, ENIG, lead-free ROHS and so on.

single-layer-mcpcb-stackup
single-layer-mcpcb-stackup

Aluminum pcb is commonly seen in LED products and has two sides(the front side and the reverse side). The white face is used to solder LED pin, and the other face presents natural color. It is generally painted with thermal conductivity paste and then contacted with heat conduction part. LED aluminum pcb is mainly used in power amplified mixed integrated circuits for STK series, motor cycles, automobile and electronics field.

There are many kinds of aluminum pcb for led tube, which varies based on the length and width of led tube. Aluminum pcb for led tube is popular with people due to its good quality, and durable and energy-saving features.

led strip
led strip

Aluminum pcb for led tube can save electricity as high as 70%. The light intensity of 12W Led tube is equal to 40w fluorescent tube. The service life of LED tube is is more than 10 times that of general fluorescent tube. It can be free of maintenance. Also, there is no need to change LED tube, barratter and starter frequently.

Generally, fluorescent tube has high temperature inside and needs to be used for more than 10 hours everyday in most cases. This problems are perfectly resolved by aluminum pcb for led tube.

If you have any queries, comments or suggestions on aluminum pcb for led, welcome to leave your message.

You may also like