What are the common PCB board materials?

With the continuous development of electronic technology, PCB (Printed Circuit Board) is one of the core components of electronic devices, and the selection of its materials is crucial. Different application scenarios require materials with different characteristics. The following will introduce several common PCB board materials and their characteristics.

1. FR-4 (fiberglass copper clad laminate)

FR-4 is one of the most commonly used PCB materials. Its name comes from its flame retardant grade (Flame Retardant) and glass fiber (Fiber-Reinforced). The following are its characteristics:

characteristic:

Good insulation performance: FR-4 material has good insulation performance and is suitable for most applications.
High mechanical strength: Glass fiber gives FR-4 excellent mechanical strength and heat resistance.
Corrosion Resistant: Resistant to corrosion from many chemicals.
Good processability: suitable for conventional PCB manufacturing process.

application:

General electronic equipment, consumer electronics, communication equipment, etc.

2. Aluminum substrate

Aluminum heat sinks are favored for their excellent heat dissipation performance and are suitable for the heat dissipation requirements of high-power electronic devices.

characteristic:

Extreme Evaporability: Aluminum blocks can efficiently circulate heat from the heat source to the surrounding environment.
High mechanical strength: Aluminum increases the mechanical strength relative to conventional FR-4 materials.
Corrosion resistance: Aluminum substrate has better corrosion resistance.

application:

High-power LED lighting, power amplifiers, power modules and other high-power electronic devices.

3. Ceramic

Ceramics achieve excellent insulation properties and high performance and are widely used in RF and microwave circuits.

characteristic:

Good high-frequency characteristics: Ceramic substrates can maintain stable electrical properties in high-frequency environments.
Excellent insulation performance: The insulation performance of ceramic substrate is better than FR-4.
High temperature resistance: has good high temperature resistance.

application:

High frequency fields such as RF and microwave circuits, antenna modules, etc.

4. High-frequency head (Rogers, Taconic, etc.)

High frequency board is a special kind of material with excellent high frequency characteristics and is widely evaluated in RF and microwave circuits.

characteristic:

Excellent high-frequency characteristics: Able to maintain extremely low signal capture in high-frequency environments.
Excellent insulation performance: has excellent insulation performance.

application:

High-frequency fields such as 5G communications, radar systems, and satellite communications.

The above are several common PCB materials and characteristics. In practical applications, it is critical to select the appropriate board according to the needs to ensure circuit performance and stability. At the same time, with the development of technology, new types of PCB boards are constantly proposed to meet the ever-changing application needs.