What Is Laminate PCB?

Several things are used for the production of robust and long-lasting PCBs. One of the major things that are PCB laminates. These are non-conductive substrates or the base materials that are used during the development of PCBs. It is essential to note that it is generally the basis of how the board serves a clear purpose: to enhance the speed of making circuits.

This is why you can learn about the way laminate PCB base works by considering the following:

• Laminate PCB is also known as Copper-clad Laminate PCB primarily due to its copper foil sheet alignment on both sides of the prepreg.
• The fiberglass layerings are stacked on top of each other and are used for forming a solid material sheet. It is done by pressing the layers using heat and pressure.
• The material for PCB laminate is a composite material. It is made up of fiberglass clothing. This type of layering is impregnated by epoxy resin.

What Are Laminate PCBs?

According to Laminate PCB manufacturers, laminate materials are used for fabricating the PCB. Moreover, it consists of thin layers of several materials bonded with pressure and heat. One of the most common laminate materials is FR4, made of glass-reinforced epoxy.

The conventional four layers of the board are copper, substrate, silkscreen, and solder mask. Moreover, the laminates are made by curing under severe temperature and pressure with the help of cloth thermoset resin that creates the final piece of thickness.

PCB laminate plays a major role in PCB performance. For instance, it affects the PCB’s overall electronic properties, mechanical strength, and thermal conductivity. Hence, choosing the appropriate laminate material type for your project is essential.

How Are PCB Laminates Made?

The production of PCB is a defined process – done by curing with pressure and high temperatures. It is also done with the help of thermoset resin for creating the final thickness piece of PCB laminate.

The PCB laminate materials are prepreg sheets of laminate using intense heat and pressure. The copper foil sheets are aligned on any one side, and when the resin hardens, the lamination will turn into a plastic composite.

What Are The Layers Of Circuit Board?

 The general PCB has 4 layers, such as:

• Silkscreen.
• Substrate.
• Soldermask.
• Copper.

The primary emphasis is on the substrate, where the laminate printed circuit board is found. There are two primary substrate types:

• Inorganic.
• Organic.

Organic substrates are reinforced materials such as fiberglass that are impregnated with the help of resin binders and are covered with copper foiling. It is then developed by putting it under intense pressure and temperature.

Many people also know the substrate above as copper-clad laminates. The inorganic substrates are ceramic plates and enamel-coated steel substrates.

What Are The Types Of PCB Laminates?

According to laminate PCB manufacturers, you can use different laminate types or non-conductive substrates to produce PCBs. They are also known as the PCB materials. The following sections cover the common Laminate PCB materials:

FR-4

When it comes to laminate PCB materials, the FR4 is one of the first materials that comes to mind. It is commonly used due to several factors, but the primary factor is the remarkable performance it has provided across the characteristics.

FR4 is the abbreviation of Flame Retardant 4. It is known for the following attributes:

• It has a good strength-to-weight ratio.
• It has remarkable mechanical strength.
• The material is made according to the NEMA LI 1-1998 standards.
• The FR4 PCB material is used for making many different types of PCBs.
• FR4 has remarkable thermal conductivity.
• This material is rigid and solid and resists warping and cracking of the printed circuit board.
• The FR4 balances costs, production capacity, performance, durability, and reliability efficiently.

Flame Properties

FR4 laminate is widely used due to its ability to retard the flames. So, the flame-retardant properties of FR4 are the primary reason they are efficient for a wide range of electrical devices.

General Application

Although FR4 PCB laminates are widely used to produce different PCB types, this option is sometimes limited. For instance, these materials are made for PCBs that need 14 layers at max.

Even with 14 layers, you can use the FR4 lamination for double-layered PCBs. However, it is best to avoid using these types of PCB Laminate materials for making circuit boards that will be used in higher temperatures. The thermal conductivity of the lamination material is another unique feature. This laminate can provide:

• Amazing thermal stability.
• Loss-enhanced UL flame.
• Low dielectric constant ratings.
• High insulation resistance.
• Power specifications.

High-Performance FR4

High-performance FR4 can be considered a more robust version of the general FR4 PCB laminate material in terms of its performance. 

The higher performance of FR4 lamination refers to the lamination material offering enhanced performance mechanically and electrically. You can use these PCB laminate materials for multilayered PCBs.

You get the following attributes:

• High-performance FR4 PCB materials will provide enhanced mechanical strength, low dielectric loss, and better thermal conductivity, especially compared to conventional FR4 material.
• Higher strength and better dimensional stability are realized because the materials use a top-grade epoxy resin and finer glass fiber weave reinforcement.

With the requirement of increased Tg to provide better reliability as well as reduced dielectric properties, this type of material is generally deployed in primary industries where reliability and performance are paramount, such as:

• Aerospace.
• Defence.
• Telecommunication.

Copper-Clad Laminate

It is another commonly used circuit board lamination type. The copper-clad laminate is the foundational material consisting of copper layering bonded on either side of PCBs.

The features of CCL lamination are:

• It is made to meet the varying requirements of electronic devices due to its accessibility in copper thickness and weight.

Polyimide

Polyimide is another PCB laminate material known for its higher temperature resistance. This feature makes it best for electronic applications exposed to intense environments.

The Teflon

Teflon is a fluoropolymer. It has remarkable properties like low dielectric constant as well as loss tangent. Teflon materials are resistant to UV light, chemicals, and high temperatures. Manufacturing of the PCBs Teflon is better as the dielectric material used in capacitors is heat-resistant for PCBs used in higher-frequency locations. It is also the best material for lubricant and other non-stick apps. Teflon materials are accessible in sheet type and cut in the desired shape with the help of a CNC router.

High-Tg Epoxy

The High Tg epoxy is best for the multilayer PCBs. This material consists of remarkable thermal and chemical resistance. Ultra-high tg epoxy offers remarkable electrical insulation. Tg Epoxy is adaptable, flame-resistant, and affordable.

Things To Consider When Choosing PCB Material

After knowing the basics of PCB laminate materials, there are several things that you must consider when choosing the material, such as:

• Costs: It is an efficient factor when choosing the board material. You want to balance the cost with other factors in the following.
• Accessibility: Some PCB laminate materials are more easily accessible than other materials. You want to consider factors like thermal conductivities and dielectric constant when choosing.
• Lead Time: The PCB material’s lead time can affect the project’s timeline. Ensure to keep this in mind when making your decision.

Conclusion

PCB laminates provide better electric insulation, offer the required mechanical strength that holds the electric parts in place and offer constant dielectric features for better transmission of the electrical currents via non-attenuated traces of coppers.