alumina ceramic pcb sheet

16+ Years Experience in Aluminia PCB Manufacturing

• Material: Aluminium Oxide (Al2O3 96%)
• Thermal Conductivity: >=18W/m‧K
• Operating Temperature: upto 350°C
• Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE): 6.0 ppm/°C
• ISO9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016 Certified & UL Listed
• Superior high-frequency performance
• Water Absorption: 0%

PCBs are required to function in many environments. While most PCBs can function efficiently in industrial environments, some applications require PCBs to function in harsh environments where the temperature or pressure is extreme, or the environment is highly infested with corrosive chemicals. For such applications, PCBs are required to be chemically and mechanically stable and must have excellent thermal conductivity. Ceramic PCBs are most suitable for such applications and the cheapest and most common ceramic PCB material is Alumina or Al 2 O 3.

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What is Alumina PCB?

Alumina PCB is a type of ceramic PCB that uses Alumina as PCB substrate material. It is the most popular and the cheapest among the common Ceramic PCBs which are Alumina, Aluminium Nitride, Beryllium Oxide and Silicon Carbide. Alumina PCBs are most widely used where the operating environment is expected to be corrosive or have high temperatures. There are three types of Alumina PCB board differentiated by the purity of alumina used. They are -

• 96% Alumina PCB-It is the most popular among the three variants. It has a low grain size which helps maintain its high thermal conductivity, good chemical resilience and structural integrity. It is popular due to its availability and its cost-to-performance output which can be said to be the highest among the three variants. It has a distinct whitish colour.
• 99% Alumina PCB -They have a higher purity of alumina ceramic. The grain size of 99% aluminium PCB is lower than 96% Alumina hence most of the thermal and mechanical properties are much better than 96% Alumina. It is not as widely used as the other two variants as it is more expensive than 96% alumina PCB and with a little extra cost 99.5% alumina can be used which is a superior ceramic. 99% of aluminium PCB boards have a light beige colour.
• 99.6 Alumina PCB -It is the purest variant of PCB among the three variants. It has the least grain size which makes its mechanical, chemical and electrical properties superior to the other two variants. It is the most expensive among the three and it is used in very specialised applications. 99.6% of Alumina PCBs have a dense beige colour.

Properties of Alumina Printed Circuit Boards

Some of the properties of Alumina PCBs are –

• Thermal Stability –This kind of PCB retains their properties with little variation in extreme temperatures. For a short time, it can operate in temperatures up to 300°C and as low as -55°C.
• Thermal Conductivity –Thermal conductivity of Alumina is very high. The thermal conductivity of it can range from 18 to 30 W/m.K which can vary by the batch and the type of alumina PCB board used. For comparison, a normal FR4 which is used in most of the general purpose PCBs has a thermal conductivity of 0.25 W/m.K, Isola Tachyon 100G which is an expensive high-speed dielectric material has a thermal conductivity of 0.42 W/m.K and a regular metal core PCB has a thermal conductivity of 1 W/m.K to 9 W/m.K.
• Water Absorption Rate –The water absorption rate of alumina PCB is 0%. Alumina has an extremely low porosity which makes its surface impermeable to water which also contributes to its resilience to corrosion. For comparison, the water absorption rate of FR-4 is around 0.1% to 0.2%.
• Mechanical Strength –Alumina Ceramic PCBs have 300 MPa to 450 MPa of compressive strength which is similar to the compulsive strength of FR-4. 300 Mpa is an impressive number for mechanical strength.
• Density –Substrates are very dense. They have a density of 3.6 g/cm³ to 3.9 g/cm³ according to the variant of Aluminium PCB. For comparison, FR-4 has a density of 1.8 g/cm³ which is approximately half of that of an alumina PCB board.
• Chemical Inertness –Alumina PCB boards are resistant to many solvents whether it is alkalic, acidic or organic solvents. PCBs are also less prone to corrosion over long durations.
• Dielectric Constant –The dielectric constant of Ceramic PCBs ranges from 9 to 10 which is considerably high. For comparison, the dielectric constant of FR4 is around 4 to 4.6 and Isola Tachyon 100G has a Dielectric constant of 3.02. A high dielectric constant translates to higher electrical energy storage of the PCB substrate.
• Dissipation Factor –The dissipation factor (Df) of alumina PCB is 0.0001 to 0.001 depending on the type of the alumina and frequency of the signal. The dissipation factor of alumina PCB is extremely low and is also lower than most of the PCB substrate materials. For comparison, FR4 has a dissipation factor of 0.015 to 0.025 and Isola Tachyon 100G has a Df of 0.0025 to 0.0035.

Advantages of using Alumina PCB Boards

Alumina PCB has many advantages which makes it a popular choice in the industry. Some of the advantages are -

• High Thermal Conductivity -Alumina PCB has one of the highest thermal conductivity among most PCBs. The high thermal conductivity enables high and even dissipation of heat. High thermal conductivity is required for high power and LED PCBs where high heat generation is expected while the PCB is in operation.
• High Thermal Stability -Alumina PCBs have low thermal expansions that provide dimensional stability even in considerably high temperatures. High thermal stability also translates to reliable connections in varied temperatures. High thermal stability is required if the PCB is required to operate in high-temperature environments.
• Supports Multilayer and Complex Circuitry -PCBs with hard substrates like metal core PCBs generally either don’t support multilayer or complex circuitry or if used, deteriorate the thermal properties of the PCB. On the other hand, alumina PCBs support multilayer can support complex circuitry.
• High Resistance to Corrosion -Alumina PCBs are quite resistant to corrosion and chemicals and essentially have a 0% water absorption rate. Its inertness makes it reliable and stable for a longer duration.
• High Dielectric Constant -Alumina PCBs have a high dielectric constant which is required for high power applications. High dielectric constant PCB substrates act as a decoupling capacitor if a separate layer is dedicated as a power layer, which reduces the noise in the power nets. High dielectric constants also reduce the crosstalk between adjacent traces.
• Stable Performance in Extreme Conditions -They are renowned for maintaining mechanical and electrical properties in very harsh environments.
• Environmentally Friendly -Alumina PCBs or even most ceramic PCBs are generally considered environmentally friendly. Alumina is an oxide of aluminium that is non-toxic to the touch, can be disposed of without causing much pollution and can be recycled.
• Cheapest among all the Ceramic PCB Substrates -Alumina PCBs are the cheapest and most widely available Ceramic PCBs available in the market.

Limitations of Alumina Circuit Boards

The disadvantages of alumina PCBs are limited, some of the limitations of these PCBs are –

• Cost –While aluminium PCB may be the cheapest ceramic material, it is far more expensive than FR-4 PCBs.
• Difficult Production-The production of alumina PCBs requires extremely high temperatures. They require additional and special equipment to be produced which contributes to the high cost.
• Limited Volume of Production-Alumina PCBs require alumina ceramic which is not as common a material as say FR-4 or specialised laminates like Rodgers PCB substrates. Limited availability and difficult manufacturing make mass producing Ceramic PCBs quite difficult. This also restricts the benefit of economy of scale for alumina PCBs.
• Availability of Better Ceramic PCBs-Alumina PCBs while are the cheapest ceramic PCBs, the properties of these PCBs are also inferior to other more expensive ceramic materials like Aluminium Nitride. For example, alumina’s thermal conductivity is 30 W/m.K which might seem high, while aluminium nitride’s ceramic PCB thermal conductivity is around 170 W/m.K.

Applications of Alumina Printed Circuit Boards

Ceramic PCBs are a popular choice of substrate for their superior thermal and electrical properties. Some of the applications of Ceramic PCBs are -

• LED PCBs -LEDs are high heat-generating components. High-power LEDs which can consume 1 Watt to 20 Watt each can generate an enormous amount of heat, which requires to be dissipated else the LED’s overall life and performance depreciate.
• High-Power PCBs -High-power PCBs use alumina for handling high-power AC and DC supply. High-power applications require excellent thermal dissipation, high dielectric insulation and high operating temperatures. Alumina PCBs are very commonly found in inverters and AC main power switching boards.
• Automotive PCBs -Automotive PCBs utilise ceramic PCBs for their ruggedness and reliability at high temperatures. Modules like the Engine Control Units and engine check sensors are required to withstand high vibrations, temperatures and mechanical jerks while maintaining the highest standards of reliability,
• RF/Microwave Applications -Ceramic PCBs are widely used for microwave and radio wave applications due to extremely low Dissipation factor and excellent signal integrity properties. Some wireless network equipment for industrial use also uses ceramic PCBs.

Viasion: The Best Choice as the Alumina PCB Supplier!

Viasion, an alumina PCB manufacturer with years of experience and modern high-end equipment support are the optimal solution for engineering implementation. When we consider how to design a perfect PCB, the ultimate realization of an ideal product requires a reliable manufacturer. Fast and high-quality manufacturing, assembly, shipping, and timely product feedback services are the starting points we adhere to. We will also improve our services through communication with customers and adhere to a customer-centric approach. Our advantages are as follows:

• We have high-end modern product equipment. Produce various alumina PCBs according to international standards.
• The production process is transparent and traceable.
• Fast manufacturing information archiving and effective product communication, providing customers with one-stop services.
• Having greater advantages in the procurement and pricing of electronic components and materials.
• The production cycle strictly follows customer requirements and ensures timely and fast delivery of goods.
• Support small and medium-sized production in terms of batch production, providing customers with customized service experience.

These are just a part of our many advantages. We as an Alumina PCB manufacturer will provide you with comprehensive Alumina PCB manufacturing and assembly services to help you achieve your ideal PCB. Please contact us.

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Viasion Technology is your trusted partner & one-stop shop for PCB fabrication, components sourcing, PCB assembly and electronic manufacturing. With more than 16 years of experience, we have been supplying high-quality PCBs with competitive pricing for 1000+ customers worldwide. Our company is ISO9001:2015 Certified & UL Listed, and all our products are 100% E-tested and inspected by AOI & X-RAY to meet the highest industry standards. So please get an instant quote from our sales team now, and we will take care of the rest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Alumina PCBs are circuit boards made up of aluminum oxide ceramic.

Alumina PCBs have some advantages over traditional glass-epoxy PCBs. Take, for example, the following ones.

• Excellent thermal conductivity.
• Good machining properties.
• Alumina PCBs are much more durable.
• Alumina substrate PCBs are also much lighter.
• Alumina PCBs have excellent electrical insulation properties.

When designing an alumina PCB, we need to consider the following points.

• Alumina PCBs are always used in applications that need excellent thermal conductivity.
• Alumina PCBs are suitable for applications where no mechanical strain will be applied.
• Alumina substrate PCBs must be designed with proper cooling in mind by combining heat sinking or thermal vias.
• Designers must use carefully chosen components to avoid component cracking.
• Designers should also understand that alumina PCB material is much more expensive than FR4 materials

Unique processes and techniques are needed in the production of Alumina PCBs. Besides, an experienced production and engineering team is significant.

Semiconductor, Automotive Electronics, Aerospace, Transportation, Medical electronics, Military applications, Telecommunications, Consumer electronics, etc.

Our stand lead time for alumina PCBs is 1-3 weeks. The lead time varies from requirements for an alumina PCB, such as the material type, board size, order quantity, layers and complexity.

The following factors determine the cost of an alumina PCB.

• The type of the base laminate
• The thickness of the alumina substrate
• The layer count of alumina PCB
• Layup structure
• The weight of the copper foil
• Surface Finish Types
• The quantity of the order
• Shipping cost