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Printed Circuit Board (PCB) can be made of various metals. These special PCBs are called metal core printed circuit boards (MCPCBS). The choice of metal varies according to the application. Aluminum PCB is a popular metal MCPCBS that can be used in many modern applications. These PCBs use metal base and copper clad laminates. This structure makes the circuit board an excellent electrical insulator and thermal conductor. It also helps the PCB provide high performance. In this article, we will discuss in detail what an aluminum printed circuit board is. In addition, this article also introduces the manufacturing process of these PCBs and the applications of these circuit boards.
What is aluminum PCB?
Aluminum printed circuit boards have the ability to dissipate heat for electronic products. Aluminum PCB is one of the most commonly used types. It uses standard FR4 laminate and aluminum core. The circuit board helps to effectively dissipate heat by virtue of its thermal envelope. These printed circuit boards are most widely used in applications involving tight tolerances and high power.
Three layers in aluminum PCB
Compared with other types of PCBs, aluminum PCBs are different in design and manufacturing. The printed circuit board consists of three main layers.
Circuit layer-The circuit layer of the aluminum circuit board is composed of copper foil. These copper foils can be used in different weights ranging from 1 to 10 ounces.
Thermal insulation layer-The thermal insulation layer of the circuit board is made of ceramic polymer. The polymer has good heat resistance and viscoelasticity. It is the most important layer and helps protect the circuit board from potential mechanical and thermal stress.
Base layer-The base layer is made of aluminum alloy substrate. These types of PCBs are ideal for through-hole technology. Because of the presence of aluminum.
How to make aluminum PCBs?
In the process of manufacturing aluminum PCB, a thin dielectric layer is added between the circuit layer and the base layer. The dielectric layer is both electrically insulating and thermally conductive. After adding the dielectric layer, the circuit layer or copper foil is etched. This allows you to obtain the desired pattern. The metal base of the circuit board helps to eliminate all heat in the circuit with the help of a thin dielectric.
What are the application areas of aluminum PCBs?
Aluminum printed circuit boards are one of the most widespread and commonly used circuit boards? They found that they can be used in a variety of applications, such as:
Signal beacons, surgical lighting tools, power transmission systems, high-power scanners, automotive dashboards, interior lighting, power converters, medical operating room lighting, landscape lighting, taillight components
This is the basic information for understanding aluminum circuit boards and their applications. Now discuss the different types of aluminum PCBs and their advantages.
What are the different types of aluminum PCBs?
As mentioned earlier, the choice of the type of aluminum circuit board depends to a large extent on the application in which it is used. There are three main types of aluminum PCBs as follows:
Through-hole aluminum PCB-In the through-hole aluminum circuit board, the aluminum is pre-drilled. After that, the dielectric is backfilled into the hole.
Flexible Aluminum PCB-In these PCBs, a flexible dielectric is used to provide a high level of flexibility, thermal conductivity and electrical insulation. When these dielectrics are used with aluminum materials, the products formed therefrom are highly flexible and can be formed into different shapes. This helps eliminate expensive connectors and fixtures.
Hybrid Aluminum PCB-These types of aluminum PCBs are commonly used in RF applications and are known to provide better thermal performance when used in standard FR4 products.
What makes aluminum PCB so popular in various applications?
The many advantages provided by aluminum plates make them popular in a variety of applications. Here are some benefits:
Light weight-this is one of the biggest advantages of these PCBs. Aluminum is an extremely light metal. Therefore, it helps to add extra strength and flexibility to the PCB.
can dissipate heat-as long as the important components on the circuit board are exposed to high temperatures, they will be damaged. Therefore, in order to protect them from such damage, materials that can dissipate heat must be used. Aluminum is a material that can generate heat from important parts on the board, thereby protecting them from any potential damage.
