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The fundamental attributes of PCBs considerably depend on the
performance of the substrate material. Thus, if you want to improve the
performance of your printed circuit board, first you have to optimize the
substrate’s performance. Till now, so many materials have been developed and
employed in different applications so that they can cooperate with advanced
technologies and market trends.
Past few years have witnessed a substantial transformation in the
market of printed circuit boards as the focus shifted from traditional hardware
products such as desktop computer system to wireless communications such as
server and mobile terminal. Mobile communication devices like smartphones have
greatly fueled the progress of PCBs design in terms of density, lightness and
multiple functions.
A PCB manufacturer with in-depth knowledge and rich
experience knows this very well that printed circuit technology can never be
achieved without substrate material as its technological requirements are
closely related to the performance of the PCB. Therefore, the selection of
substrate material plays a vital role in enhancing the quality and reliability
of PCBs and also the end products in which PCBs will be installed. So, the
question is -how to determine substrate material for your PCBs? Let’s find out
the answer.
In the modern era, there is a trend of thin, miniature, compact and
affordable electronic devices which further leads to the advent of different
types of PCBs. An experienced PCB manufacturer can help you select the most
suitable material for the particular PCB you need. But, for your general
reference, there are some popular materials which are often used for designing
PCBs.
FR-4
This material is counted amongst the most popular materials. It is
a glass fabric-reinforced laminates which are bonded with flame resistant epoxy
resin. In actual, it is not a material but a grade designated by NEMA, National
Electrical Manufacturers Association. Here, the FR acronym stands for flame
retardant and denotes that this material complies with UL94 V0.
The advantage of using FR-4 is that it is cost-effective and very
versatile. It offers electrical insulation with high dielectric strength and
high strength-to-weight ratio. Other major attributes of FR-4 are that it is
lightweight, moisture resistant and relative temperature resistant.
CEM-1
It is a cheaper substitute of FR-4 and stands for composite epoxy
material. Just like CEM-1, it is also a classification by NEMA. It is made from
paper and two layers of woven glass epoxy and phenol compounds. However, there
is a restriction to its use. It is suitable for only single-sided printed
circuit boards as laminates are incompatible with the process of metallization
in holes. While dielectric properties are quite like FR-4 but its mechanical
endurance is not good enough. It comes with a flammable rating of UL94 V0.
CEM-3
Unlike CEM-1, CEM-3 can be used for double-sided PCBs with plated
holes. It also costs less than its counterpart FR-4. Depending upon its
properties and applications, it can be categorized into the following
subclasses:
· 1. Standard, with or without UV blocking
· 2. Compatible with lead-free reflow technology
· 3. Halogen free, without antimony and phosphorus, non-toxic substance
· 4. With normalized index of CTI greater than or equal to 600.
So, whenever you need to PCBs for your application or project,
contact a reputed PCB manufacturer who can provide right suggestions to
ensure that PCBs produced at the end will be of high quality.
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