Different PCB materials result in a variety of PBC specifications and prices in printed circuit board production and prototyping. There are 1- or 2-ply boards that only require a prepreg “core,” or multi-ply boards that use two or more types of cores in construction. A material made of thin layers of fiberglass “prepreg” with a binder or metal core in the form of a sheet, prepreg comes in many different sizes depending on its intended use and desired thickness. The thickness of your board can range from a couple of thousandths of an inch for flexible boards to a quarter inch thick for burned boards. The core materials resemble thin, double-sided boards with dielectric materials such as fiberglass along with a copper foil placed on each side; these usually come in predefined thicknesses.
PCB prototype using FR4
FR4, the most widely used family of substrates for printed circuit boards, is a fiberglass epoxy laminate. FR4 is the most standard material with higher numbers (like FR4-06, FR4-08) they have higher temperature coefficients and lower dielectric constants. FR4 has a starting Tg of 140 degrees Celsius, FR4-06 has a Tg of 170 degrees, and as you move up the family the temperature rises.
Metal Core PCB Prototype
Popular in light-emitting diode printed circuit boards, Metal Core has great heat removal. A single-layer MCPBC contains a metal base, typically an aluminum and non-conductive layer, a copper circuit layer, IC components, and a solder mask. The metal core acts as an amazing heat sink to ensure the safety of the LEDs.
PCB prototype with polyimide for greater flexibility
More resistant than FR4, polyimide withstands higher temperatures; this makes it ideal for use in electrical insulation applications that meet class H requirements. The polyimide consists of a silicone adhesive pattern and a polyimide film built to withstand high temperatures. Protects edge connectors, gold edge fingers during wave soldering and reflow soldering processes during PCB assembly. Another interesting fact about polyimide is the color. While most boards have a green color, polyimide is easily distinguished by its brown color.
High Frequency Teflon Prototype PCB
Woven glass/PTFE based PCB materials require special drilling because compared to FR4, Teflon is soft. These materials no longer have the myth of being exotic. Woven glass/PTFE base materials provide rapid growth in application operations and meet high frequency demands in a material that has proven performance and availability.
PCB prototype using Arlon for longer life at higher temperatures
Use Arlon materials for high-performance PCB manufacturing and frequency-dependent printed circuit manufacturing. Common applications include those vulnerable to high temperatures during processing, such as applications containing significant lifetime temperatures and lead-free solder. Examples include under-hood automotive controls, well drilling, burnt dashboards, aircraft engine instrumentation, and industrial sensors.
Using the Isola Range for PCB Prototyping
Advanced circuitry applications use the Isola range, a high performance FR-4 epoxy laminate and prepreg system. Isola’s low dielectric constant and low dissipation factor make it the ideal material for broadband circuit designs that require faster signal speed and/or better signal integrity. Isola is also the leading manufacturer of lead-free materials, its IS410 and 370HR being the main materials used for ROHS compliant boards.