Aluminum PCB manufacturers: Pros and Cons of Aluminum PCBs China

Do aluminum PCB boards provide good heat resistance?

Today we can clearly notice the functionality of modern electronic gadgets. They have become even more sensible and outperforming as compared to old ones. This revolution is just because of aluminum PCB manufacturers.

They obviously understand all the needs of modern electronic gadgets and the importance of PCB trends. Moreover, they deeply acknowledge that instead of depending on traditional PCB boards and old materials, now is the time to move forward to something more complex and sophisticated.

So, they use premium-quality materials to produce aluminum PCB boards. But like all other materials, aluminum materials also have some pros and cons of using.

Come with us to read about these pros and cons as well as more about aluminum PCB boards, their beneficial features. Read about the top 5 uses of aluminum PCB circuit boards as well.

What is Aluminum PCB?

Nowadays aluminum PCB boards have become more popular as compared to standard boards because of their excellent thermal dissipation for modern electronic products. Essentially, aluminum boards have a similar layout as the standard boards. It has for example,

• layers of copper
• layers of solder mask
• and silkscreen layered over them.

In aluminum boards, aluminum PCB manufacturers use a metal substrate instead of plastic or fiberglass substrate.

The layer of metal substrate actually uses the layers of aluminum with a specific combination.

Basically, PCB manufacturers produce aluminum PCBs having single or double sides. Although, they can create multilayer aluminum boards they are most difficult to produce. So, they prefer to manufacture aluminum boards with single or double sides.

The most popular use of aluminum PCB boards:

Virtually, among all-metal core PCBs, aluminum PCB boards are the most common types of circuit boards.

The most popular use of aluminum PCBs is in the LED industry as they are highly heat-resistant. Furthermore, they also have the capability to expand the overall lifespan of LED devices as well as give them more stability.

Hence, because of all these good features, PCB manufacturers prefer aluminum as a base material as compared to traditional materials.

Why aluminum PCB manufacturers use aluminum in circuit boards?

The aluminum PCB manufacturers actually favor aluminum material because aluminum has the perfect ability to move heat away from all vital components. Hence, this ability makes them the best option for minimizing all the harmful effects that can damage the circuit board.

Furthermore, aluminum PCB boards also can give extra strength and more durability to the product that other materials, for example, fiberglass and ceramic can’t provide.

Almost 100 years after the first industrial volume of aluminum was produced, its worldwide demand has increased up to 29 million tons per year due to its amazing benefits.

Essentially, pure aluminum is extra soft, ideally corrosion-resistant, more ductile as well as has a high electrical conductivity.

 Classification of aluminum PCB boards:

Aluminum PCB manufacturers generally divide aluminum PCB boards into 3 main categories, such as;

1. Universal Aluminum PCB
2. High Thermal-Conductive Aluminum PCB
3. High-frequency Aluminum PCB.

Universal Aluminum PCB:

In these PCB boards, the manufacturers use the dielectric layer made with epoxy glass fiber pre-preg.

High Thermal-Conductive Aluminum PCB:

In these aluminum PCB boards, manufacturers use a special layer of the dielectric layer that is made of epoxy resin. Further, the resin that manufacturers use to make dielectric layer consist of high thermal conductivity.

High-frequency Aluminum PCB:

In these aluminum PCB boards, PCB manufacturers compose the dielectric layer using polyimide resin glass fiber pre-preg or polyolefin.

What are the top 5 uses of aluminum PCB circuit boards?

Basically, aluminum PCB boards have ideal thermal dissipation functions. In fact, LED devices usually generate much more heat so aluminum makes them ideal for high-density applications.

Hence, for this most beneficial reason, aluminum PCB manufacturers prefer to use aluminum base material in comparison to traditional materials.

Communication electronic equipment:

These PCB boards are ideal for;

• filter electrical circuit,
• high-frequency amplifiers.

Audio equipment:

They are perfect for;

• output and input amplifiers,
• audio amplifiers,
• balanced amplifiers,
• power amplifiers,
• preamplifiers, and many more.

Power supply equipment:

The equipment such as;

• conditioner,
• stabilizer,
• DC-AC adapter, etc.

Power modules:

All power modules like;

• solid relays,
• inverters,
• rectifier bridges and so on.

Modern computers:

All types of latest computers such as;

• motherboard,
• floppy disk drive,
• power supply device, and so on.

What are the pros and cons of aluminum substrate?

As we already have explained that aluminum circuit boards are the most popular PCB options for thermal conduction.                                                                                                                                              Moreover, they are perfect to use for keeping heat away from all vital components to make sure the minimal circuit damage.

Although they have several advantages you can’t deny some of their disadvantages as well. Hence read them carefully!

highly cost-effective:

Essentially, aluminum is a special metal that is present in almost in a large variety of climates. Hence, it is extremely easy to access. Further, aluminum is also very easy to refine. So, it is extremely low in cost. It means that it is less expensive in comparison to other metals as well.

Although the materials are perfect for circuit boards but are expensive when aluminum PCB manufacturers use them in PCB boards.

Extremely environmentally friendly:

Basically, the material of aluminum is highly environmentally friendly as it is 100% recyclable as well as non-toxic. Hence, aluminum PCB boards help to maintain the overall health of our planet (earth).

Basically, one of the biggest drawbacks of aluminum is that manufacturers can design only one or two layers. Moreover, if you want to manufacture PCB boards with multilayers then they will cost you more as compared to regular applications.

The aluminum materials are ideal to provide extreme durability in comparison to fiberglass bases or ceramic. Moreover, they reduce accidental breakage and save your objects even in highly accidental situations.

The aluminum materials are not suitable to use in high-temperature and extremely sensitive environments.

Conclusion:

Although aluminum substrate has some drawbacks it doesn’t mean that it is not a popular choice of aluminum PCB manufacturers to use in aluminum PCBs.

These PCB boards provide great flexibility as compared to standard boards. So, PCB manufacturers prefer Aluminum to produce aluminum PCBs over all other traditional materials.

Further, they can also determine the price of circuit boards more effectively.