With the involvement of electronic devices and software, the decision of one type of PCB to replace the other significantly influences the application’s performance and cost. Based on the categories mentioned above of PCBs, flexible PCBs and rigid-flex PCBs possess distinguishing characteristics and immense applications. There are a lot of articles about rigid PCB vs flexible PCB, however, this article covers Flexible PCBs, Rigid-Flex PCBs, their construction, their benefits and drawbacks and the recommended applications.
Usually known as flex circuits, the flexible printed circuits abbreviated as FPCs are the forms of the PCBs that can easily bend to take the most suitable form and shape and be placed in the desired parts. Polyimide or polyester based flexible plastics form these and this makes it possible for the board to bend, twist or even fold without breaking. This characteristic therefore makes them suitable for use where there is going to be some form of space limitation or where the board has to take a distinctly non-standard form.
Flexible PCBs are used in a variety of applications, some of which are listed as follows:
