Millennium Circuits Limited offers ceramic PCBs (printed circuit boards) for your company’s needs. Many users of PCBs find ceramic boards have an advantage over traditional boards made of other materials. This advantage is because these PCBs provide suitable ceramic substrates for electronic circuits with high thermal conductivity and low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE).
The ceramic PCB is extremely versatile and can replace a complete traditional PCB with a less complex design and increased performance.You can use them in multiple products,like high-power circuits, chip-on-board modules and proximity sensors.
Besides its enviable thermal properties and low CTE, ceramic PCBs come with a few other benefits. Review some of their advantages below:
Another ceramic PCB advantage is a lower overall system cost, which can be especially cost-effective for dense packages, since you have parallel processing of layers.
Ceramic PCBs are usually made up of ceramic cores, with alumina and aluminum nitride (AIN) being two of the primary types. Both of these kinds of boards provide better thermal performance than metal core PCBs because there isn’t a need for an electric layer between the core and the circuits. Find out more about these two main kinds of ceramic PCB types below:
For high thermal conductivity, aluminum nitride boards are ideal, providing greater than 150 w/mK. Since aluminum nitride boards are expensive, however, those opting for less expensive ceramic PCBs may find themselves with aluminum oxide boards, which offer about 18-36 w/mK. Both types will provide better thermal performance than metal core printed circuit boards, because there is no need for an electric layer between the core and the circuits.
Using silver for the printing traces — covered with glass for protection — will further increase thermal conductivity (406 W/mK). Other ceramic material options include boron nitride, beryllium oxide, and silicon carbide. Ceramic boards are not finished with OSP, HASL, or other traditional surface finishes because of the high operational temperatures. However, you can get your ceramic printed circuit boards with gold plating to protect the exposed pads if silver corrosion may be a problem, such as in high sulfur environments.
Using silver for the printing traces — covered with glass for protection — will further increase thermal conductivity (406 W/mK). Other ceramic material options include boron nitride, beryllium oxide and silicon carbide.
Ceramic boards are typically not finished with OSP, HASL, Pb-free HASL surface finishes because of the high operational temperatures. However, you can get your ceramic PCBs with ENIG (Electroless nickel immersion gold) or ENEPIG (Electroless nickel electroless palladium immersion gold) surface finish to protect the exposed pads if silver corrosion may be a problem, such as in high sulfur environments.
High ceramic PCB thermal conductivity is probably the leading reason more industries are turning to ceramics in their PCBs and packages, as this base material has a clear edge over traditional materials in this regard. Better CTE matching and hermetic sealing only add to the appeal of these materials.
The challenge is that ceramic base material and the boards your PCB manufacturer makes from them, are considerably more expensive than materials for traditional PCBs, which can add up significantly over the length of a high-volume job. However, the benefits of ceramic boards and the need for heightened thermal conductivity are so great that any company that can afford to use ceramic boards will probably do so out of necessity.
At MCL,we can estimate the level of thermal conductivity of the main types of ceramic boards, but the final values will vary depending upon the manufacturing process, grain size and composition.While we might not know the exact value of a board, check out the range of values that experts agree upon below:
Because the variations are so wide, it is difficult to pin down actual thermal conductivity numbers. Your best approach will be to do your own testing, record the values you obtain and use those in your future calculations.
Industries that need higher-frequency connections and good heat resistance can benefit from ceramic PCBs. Top industries that ceramic PCBs can serve include:
Ceramic PCBs can be useful and efficient for printed circuit boards in these and many other industries, depending upon your design and manufacturing needs.
With the benefits of PCBs and the many industries they can serve, you might be interested in what MCL can do for you. Find out more about why we’re an excellent choice to supply your ceramic PCBs:
For ceramic PCBs, metal core PCBs, flexible circuit boards or other PCB products, Millennium Circuits Limited is the company to contact. Our commitments to quality assurance and customer service are unparalleled, and we have the facilities and experience to be your only PCB supplier. We offer no minimum orders, and we ensure prompt delivery.
In summary, ceramic PCBs provide suitable substrates for PCBs requiring high thermal conductivity and a low CTE. For high thermal conductivity, aluminum nitride boards are ideal. For less expensive ceramic PCBs may find themselves with aluminum oxide boards. You can use them for high-power circuits, chip-on-board modules, proximity sensors, and more.
