Introduction

The use of PCB is quite common all around the world. However, there were times when only FR4 PCBs used to be installed in various appliances, whereas now the time has changed. Apart from the traditional material, ceramic PCBs are also gaining significant popularity.

Many reasons could have compelled people to opt for these PCBs, especially in the circuits requiring high density. The properties of ceramic make them suitable for PCB manufacture, which comprises being very stable, containing versatility, and at the same time offering insulation as well, which is very much required for circuit boards.

What is Ceramic substrate PCB?

Before ceramic PCBs were introduced, the traditional material was used to manufacture these PCBs; however, that was not able to handle harsh environments and hence was subject to flaws.

After the ceramic substrate PCB, this problem got resolved, and because of its capability to handle harsh environmental conditions, it is the best substitute for traditional materials. The most important property is its capability to handle a lot of pressure and high temperatures.

What are the categories of Ceramic substrate PCB?

Considering a detailed analysis of the ceramic substrate, PCB is divided based on two categories. One is the kind of substrate that will be used, and the second is the manufacturing process that will be undertaken. Here you will find a detailed analysis of both aspects.

By substrate

There are many options, and each type of substrate has its property. So, below we discussed the three common kinds of substrates selected to create these PCBs, along with the properties they possess.

Aluminum Nitride (AIN)

Because of its perfect thermal conductivity, an aluminum nitride is an ideal form of ceramic substrate used for PCBs. It has a coefficient of thermal expansion that even meets silicon which is also a plus point.

However, it is pretty expensive compared to other options. At the same time, it has one drawback: if even a little layer of oxygen enters it, the continuity of this kind of PCB is impacted.

Beryllium Oxide (BeO)

Beryllium oxide is one of the most commonly used materials for ceramic PCBs, and it is used commonly for electronic appliances and produces high thermal circuit boards. However, after reaching 300 degrees, the temperature of this material drops very quickly, which is sometimes a problem with certain appliances.

Aluminum Oxide (Alumina)

Aluminum oxide is the best option to consider when manufacturing ceramic substrate PCBs. They are rich in the best chemical properties, have very high strength, and are suitable for various electronic appliances.

The best part is that using this kind of ceramic, different shapes can be manufactured, and at the same time, it could be subjected to technical manufacturing processes.

By manufacturing process

There are many kinds of manufacturing processes that can be chosen to manufacture the ceramic substrate PCB, and the prevalent ones have been discussed below:

High-temperature co-fired ceramics (HTCC)

The HTCC PCBs are such that no matter how high they cater to the temperature, they stay the same with no damage. In this method of producing ceramic substrate PCB, the first stage is the stage of fabrication, where the raw material of the ceramic substrate is used.

The temperature used for baking the HTCC process is somewhere between 1600 to 1700 degrees centigrade, which is quite a lot. This kind of PCB is backed with a very high melting point, and metals like manganese and tungsten are used for circuit traces.

Low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC)

In the case of LTCC, the ceramic substrate is used in combination with glass for a certain percentage. This is done so that the binding of the material is sufficient. This combined mixture is left on a surface so that it gets dried.

Once the substrate is dried, holes are drilled depending on what kind of design is in the layers of the circuit. The fabrication process is then carried out by baking it in an oven.

Direct bonded copper (DBC)

The direct bonded copper process is where there is a copper layer and a ceramic layer, and between these two layers, oxygen is introduced. This causes copper oxide to create a liquid, and the chemical reaction followed by a relatively high temperature makes a penetration between copper and ceramic to produce the PCB.

Direct copper plating (DPC)

Direct copper plating is a process in which a copper metal layer is deposited on the ceramic substrate. The process through which this deposition process takes place is known as the vacuum coating process. Then a photoresist process is carried out, followed by etching to remove unwanted material.

Laser Activated Metallization (LAM)

As the name suggests, this method uses laser energy which ionizes the metal and the ceramic substrate together, creating a thick layer of PCB circuit.

Advantages of Ceramic substrate PCB

There are various advantages of ceramic substrate PCB, and some of these advantages are discussed below:

● The performance of ceramic substrate PCBs proves to be relatively better than traditional PCBs.

● The PCBs made using ceramic substrate are featured with heat dissipation, increasing the life of the electronic appliances they will be incorporated into.

● The process properties of a ceramic PCB are good because the ceramic itself has outstanding mechanical strength, which helps make the best ceramic PCBs.

● Ceramic PCBs can withstand high thermal conductivity and high voltage and protect appliances from damage.

● Ceramic PCBs are very safe and can meet innovative appliances and their requirements, which traditional PCBs cannot meet.

Applications of Ceramic substrate PCB

Ceramic substrate PCBs are pretty popular in aerospace industries, the automobile industry, and also military applications. However, their ability to deal with high temperatures and pressure has convinced manufacturing appliances to have them.

Their versatility and ability to handle all kidneys in extreme conditions have made it possible for their users to get popular in almost all industries.

Conclusion

Ceramic PCBs are gaining popularity daily, and many appliances nowadays have them in use. However, the best ceramic PCBs can be found at Rocket PCB. The manufacturing process offered here is always worth choosing, and you will always have the eBay dealing experience.

You can always get in touch with us and get your ceramic PCBs designed to have your hands on the right choice made with the finest material and experienced staff. We always provide a support service after sales, and you will have our assistance anytime you want.