PCBs & The Environment

There’s increased pressure for companies to address environmental sustainability of their products which impacts electronic assembly and printed circuit board manufacturing. Climate change and recycling practices are driving sustainable PCB manufacturing. Introduction of hazardous material use standards and alternative manufacturing options are contributing to the progress achieved. PCB manufacturing has traditionally posed some environmental concerns like: energy-intensive high […]

PCB Material Selection

Types of material available. Circuit Board Material The circuit board is made up of the core (substrate) and the laminate. The core is the dielectric (non-conductive) portion chosen based on dielectric constant. Laminates provide the copper foil or surface. Laminates themselves, may also be used as core material in some constructions. Substrates Substrates are dielectric composite […]

Future of Printed Circuit Boards

Printed circuit boards have continued to advance and evolve since their invention back in the 1940’s. Today, PCBs are smaller, thinner, and denser in circuitry, than could ever be imagined at the beginning. They are also produced more efficiently and at higher volumes due to enhanced manufacturing technology and design software sophistication. As a key […]

PCB Materials for High Speed Applications

Key material performance parameters are used to determine suitability of PCB materials for high frequency PCB applications. These include dissipation factor (Df), and dielectric constant (Dk). For digital circuits, and their steadily rising speed requirements, choosing the wrong PCB materials can have devastating results (such as poor plated-through holes or impedance discontinuities). Material selection based on these […]

Using a Multi-meter to Test a PCB

PCBs are simply an electronic component base where various components are positioned and soldered in place. PCBs are made by etching the copper layer on the core laminate with the electrical circuit (layout). The most popular method is based on utilizing a ferric chloride solution, although there are methods available as well. If etching is improper, […]

PCB Core vs. Prepreg Materials: What You May Need to Know

PCB material selection and manufacturing process understanding is important to consider when contemplating a new project. One question is often, the difference between PCB core and prepreg materials. Once the difference between core and prepreg is understood, then what exact materials should be used for your application? What’s the impact on electrical parameters during plating, etching, […]

Halogen Free PCBs – A Useful Guide

Halogen Free PCBs are printed circuit board without halogens in their construction. Halogens include Chlorine, Bromine, Fluorine, Iodine, and Astatine, which have health & safety concerns. For a PCB to be considered “Halogen-Free,” there must either be less than 900 parts per million of chlorine or bromine, or fewer than 1500 parts per million of […]