There are many ways to make a printed circuit board. But there is one type that is known for being effective for thermal dissipation, and that is aluminum PCBs. It may be referred to by other names, including aluminum clad, metal clad printed circuit board or even thermally conductive printed circuit board. They all come down to having the same base material – aluminum – and performing the same way.
These types of boards have a thermal clad layer which disperses heat quite efficiently. At the same time, the layer is also cooling components which results in an increase in the overall performance of your PCB.
When constructing an aluminum PCB, there will be three layers. The circuit layer which is typically made of copper. Then there is the insulation layer that is a thermal insulation. The base is then the aluminum substrate.
By going with Candor’s aluminum PCBs, you are getting not just quality in the material. But you are also getting high quality in the manufacturing processes and customer service. Here at Candor, we are always pushing the limits of the technology used to develop and created printed circuit boards. Whether it be through the types of materials used or the processes we have created, the result is a beautifully manufactured printed circuit board that meets all requirements you provide.
Let’s look at aluminum printed circuit boards a bit closer to see why you would use one and what their advantages are.
Aluminum PCB Use Cases
If your top concern is of heat displacement within the board, using aluminum is your best option. The metal is excellent at dispersing the heat in a way that is best compared to other metals used in PCBs. Any design that would be significantly improved by better controlling the temperature and displacing the heat, aluminum PCBs would be used.
An aluminum PCB would be most beneficial for places like automotive and power electronics, or anything else that heat would be harmful to the components. Using aluminum eliminates the need for having forced air in the design. The result is fewer components needed and a lower design cost.
You would also find aluminum PCBs with LED lighting, whether it be interior or exterior lighting. LEDs use high amounts of current without overheating. When a light overheats, it becomes vulnerable to burning out and breaking. Because LEDs are known for having a long lifespan, the heat needs to be displaced in a way to prevent overheating. An aluminum PCB would be used in this case.
Advantages of Aluminum PCBs
There are many advantages of using an aluminum PCB. There are five main benefits to this type:
Environmentally Friendly
Aluminum is recyclable and non-toxic which is better for you and the environment. With how it is manufactured, it also conserves energy because it is so easy to work with.
Cost Effective
There is an abundance of aluminum, and it is easy to mine. That means the cost to use it is lower than other metals.
Durable
Aluminum is strong metal that has the strength other materials like fibreglass does not. Because of the strength and durability, it makes for a great base with lower chances of breaking.
Lightweight
Aluminium is quite light while still being reliable, resilient and durable.
Heat Dissipation
Aluminum is excellent for transferring heat away from the vital components within the board. Too much heat on these components could result in severe damage to your board.
Types of Aluminum PCB
There are three main types of Aluminum PCBs:
1. Flexible Aluminum:
A flexible dielectric is used for these types of board. It significantly improves the flexibility. When there is a space constraint in the design, a flexible PCB is used to fit into different shapes better than a rigid board could.
2. Hybrid Aluminum
When working with RF application, a hybrid aluminum PCB is typically used. Working with RF requires a uniform plating that Candor exceeds with through or metal-backed plating.
3. Through-Hole Aluminum
A pre-drilled, or post laminated drilled aluminum base is used in these types of circuit boards. There is a substantial amount of heat tolerance with this technology, as well as strong physical connections and easier prototyping.
Why Choose Aluminum PCBs for Your Project?
From cost to heat conductivity to sustainability and performance, one might choose aluminum PCBs over traditional PCBs for their project for many reasons. Aluminum is a commonly used material, showing up in many metal-core PCBs. Depending on the task, aluminum might be the preferred alternative.
Cost Benefits
Price is typically the most important factor when purchasing printed circuit boards. Metal prices fluctuate, and a savvy engineer or project manager must know the rising costs of copper and other materials.
If you wish to be more financially responsible with your project, you might consider aluminum over the materials of a standard board. When budgeting and designing your project, aluminum can be less costly than other comparable metals. It is more readily available in mines across the planet, and is more inexpensive to process than many other metal materials.
Thermal Conductivity
Aluminum PCBs have improved thermal properties that are nearly twice the standard of traditional circuit boards. With greater energy conductance comes a greater thermal diffusivity, dispersing heat for improved performance. Compared to copper alone, aluminum’s vastly superior thermal and heating conductance allows for a faster transmission capacity.
Layering Techniques
While these boards feature a basic, similar structure, aluminum PCBs also feature a dielectric element that you won’t find on a standard PCB. Aluminum boards can withstand additional temperature fluctuations because of this dielectric layer, and there are more advantages to double-sided aluminum PCBs alongside cost and performance.
Electrical Resistance
Resistance to electricity is critical to PCB design because of how it affects the component’s reliability and appearance. Aluminum has a lower resistance than a standard PCB because of its larger density, making it an excellent choice when a product requires faster electricity transmission and narrower circuits.
Wider Application
Copper-based PCBs have long been the common board, used in practically all standard circuit boards. Aluminum PCBs are often used in applications that require brightness, such as lighting and scanning. Because of the improved heat control of aluminum boards, they are more desired within applications where heat conductivity is necessary, which covers an extensive amount of modern products such as cell phones, video game consoles, and computer systems.
Sustainability and Durability
Because aluminum is reusable and non-toxic, it reduces your PCB’s carbon impact. Once an aluminum circuit board has served its purpose it can be safely disposed of, a feature that’s nearly non-existent in traditional PCBs. Standard circuit board materials are difficult to refine, harmful to the environment, and more expensive, making this selection an easy one for many project managers.
Aluminum PCBs are also more durable than ceramic or fiberglass, which makes them less likely to be harmed during production or operation. They are ideal for products used in tougher situations, and the aluminum material is extremely light when balanced against its strength and endurance. Aluminum can strengthen and protect a device while reducing its weight, an important factor in many portable products.
Lightweight
As discussed above, aluminum as a metal is quite light, making aluminum PCBs easier to ship and manage. They are well suited for the automobile industry because of their low structure, and manufacturers have more opportunities to build intricate boards because of aluminum’s ability in a compact space.
Why Choose Aluminum PCBs for Your Project?
From cost to heat conductivity to sustainability and performance, one might choose aluminum PCBs over traditional PCBs for their project for many reasons. Aluminum is a commonly used material, showing up in many metal-core PCBs. Depending on the task, aluminum might be the preferred alternative.
Cost Benefits
Price is typically the most important factor when purchasing printed circuit boards. Metal prices fluctuate, and a savvy engineer or project manager must know the rising costs of copper and other materials.
If you wish to be more financially responsible with your project, you might consider aluminum over the materials of a standard board. When budgeting and designing your project, aluminum can be less costly than other comparable metals. It is more readily available in mines across the planet, and is more inexpensive to process than many other metal materials.
Thermal Conductivity
Aluminum PCBs have improved thermal properties that are nearly twice the standard of traditional circuit boards. With greater energy conductance comes a greater thermal diffusivity, dispersing heat for improved performance. Compared to copper alone, aluminum’s vastly superior thermal and heating conductance allows for a faster transmission capacity.
Layering Techniques
While these boards feature a basic, similar structure, aluminum PCBs also feature a dielectric element that you won’t find on a standard PCB. Aluminum boards can withstand additional temperature fluctuations because of this dielectric layer, and there are more advantages to double-sided aluminum PCBs alongside cost and performance.
Electrical Resistance
Resistance to electricity is critical to PCB design because of how it affects the component’s reliability and appearance. Aluminum has a lower resistance than a standard PCB because of its larger density, making it an excellent choice when a product requires faster electricity transmission and narrower circuits.
Wider Application
Copper-based PCBs have long been the common board, used in practically all standard circuit boards. Aluminum PCBs are often used in applications that require brightness, such as lighting and scanning. Because of the improved heat control of aluminum boards, they are more desired within applications where heat conductivity is necessary, which covers an extensive amount of modern products such as cell phones, video game consoles, and computer systems.
Sustainability and Durability
Because aluminum is reusable and non-toxic, it reduces your PCB’s carbon impact. Once an aluminum circuit board has served its purpose it can be safely disposed of, a feature that’s nearly non-existent in traditional PCBs. Standard circuit board materials are difficult to refine, harmful to the environment, and more expensive, making this selection an easy one for many project managers.
Aluminum PCBs are also more durable than ceramic or fiberglass, which makes them less likely to be harmed during production or operation. They are ideal for products used in tougher situations, and the aluminum material is extremely light when balanced against its strength and endurance. Aluminum can strengthen and protect a device while reducing its weight, an important factor in many portable products.
Lightweight
As discussed above, aluminum as a metal is quite light, making aluminum PCBs easier to ship and manage. They are well suited for the automobile industry because of their low structure, and manufacturers have more opportunities to build intricate boards because of aluminum’s ability in a compact space.
