The Advantages of Metal Core Printed Circuit Boards - 3 views

PCB Assembly Design Manufacturing https:__www.protoexpress.com_blog_advantages-metal-core-printed-circuit-boards_

started by sierra_circuits on 02 Jan 20

#1 sierra_circuits on 02 Jan 20

When the temperature of a PCB assembly starts rising, the owner of that board begins to sweat profusely. Clearly, they feel the heat more than the components on the board do. Jokes apart, don't lose your cool, metal cores are here for you.

The rapid development of the LED industry, especially in the high-power LED lighting, has raised concerns about heat dissipation. These LEDs are usually mounted on PCBs and thus can create problems within the circuit. Without the right technique, heat dissipation will hinder the performance of electronic devices that run on high-power. The implementation of metal cores in these kinds of applications proves to solve this problem.

What is a Metal Core PCB?
Heat Dissipation in MCPCB
Heat dissipation in metal core PCBs.

A metal core printed circuit board (MCPCB) also known as thermal PCB, incorporates a metal material as its base as opposed to the traditional FR4, for the heat spreader fragment of the board. Heat builds up due to some electronic components during the operation of the board. The purpose of the metal is to divert this heat away from critical board components and towards less crucial areas such as the metal heatsink backing or metallic core. Hence, these PCBs are apt for thermal management.

In a multilayer MCPCB, the layers will be evenly distributed on each side of the metal core. For instance, in a 12-layer board, the metal core will be at the center with 6 layers on the top and 6 layers at the bottom.

MCPCBs are also referred to as insulated metallic substrate (IMS), insulated metal PCBs (IMPCB), thermal clad PCBs, and metal-clad PCBs. In this article, we will be using the acronym MCPCB to avoid ambiguity.

The MCPCBs are made up of thermal insulating layers, metal plates, and metal copper foil.

The basic structure of MCPCB comprises of the following:

Solder mask
Circuit layer
Copper layer - 1oz. to 6oz. (most commonly used 1oz. to 2oz.)
Dielectric layer
Metal core layer
Heat sink
Types of Metal Bases Utilized in MCPCBs
Aluminum substrate - The aluminum printed circuit boards offer good heat dissipation and heat transferring ability. Since they are light in weight, the aluminum core PCBs find their purpose in LED lighting, audio frequency apparatus, and communication electronic equipment.

Here, the thickness of the core ranges between 40 mils and 120 mils, with 40 mils and 60 mils being the most commonly used.

8mm to 2mm aluminum thickness
5W/(mK) and 2.0W/(mK) thermal conductivity
Greater than 9lb/in peeling strength
Solder resistance: SF: 288℃, >180 sec.
>3000V breakdown voltage
03 dielectric loss angle
UL 94V-0 flammability
18" x 24" panel size
Copper base (copper core or heavy copper) - The copper core boards feature better performance than aluminum. But customers generally choose aluminum since copper is relatively expensive. Also, copper cores are heavier and involve a tough machining process.

Various Base Metals and Their Properties
The thermal conductivity of the metal core PCB dielectric material is measured in Watts per meter Kelvin (W/mK).

Metal base material Thermal conductivity
(W/mK)

Thermal expansion
(ppm/K)

Features
Aluminum 5052 H32 138 25 Al-Mg-Cr alloy
Suitable for bending, mechanical forming, low price

Aluminum 6061 T6 167 25 Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloy
Suitable for CNC machining and V-cut scoring,

mid-price

Copper C110 386 17 Pure Cu
Low CTE, high thermal conductivity,

Relatively expensive compared to aluminum

Why Metal Core PCBs?
Accumulation of too much heat in printed circuit boards lead to malfunctions in the devices. Electronic devices that generate a considerable amount of heat cannot always be cooled using conventional fans. Conductive cooling through metal core boards is an ideal option. In conductive cooling, the heat is transferred from one hot part to a cooler part by direct contact. This works well since heat constantly seeks to move to any object or medium that is cooler.

Advantages of MCPCB
These boards possess the ability to integrate a dielectric polymer layer with high thermal conductivity for lower thermal resistance.

The higher the conductivity of the material, the faster the heat transfer.
The metal boards can be etched to control heat flow away from components
Boards with aluminum, tend to be lighter in weight than ceramics.
Metal substrates are long-lasting and are more conductive than epoxy products.
Metals are non-toxic and are recyclable.
Implemented in high vibration applications. The components don't fall off since the core reduces the vibration.
Manufacturing MCPCB
In a typical single-sided LED MCPCB, the circuitry layer of copper foil is bonded to a layer of thermally conductive dielectric material. This dielectric layer is further bonded to a thicker layer of metal which can be either Aluminum 5052 (5052H32), Aluminum 6061 (6061T6), or Copper C1100.

LED Metal Core PCB Cross-Section
Typical LED metal core PCB cross-section

Thickness of the Dielectric Layer and the Metal Core
The core is made up of a metal plate of a particular thickness that dissipates heat. The thickness is in the range of 30 mils to 125 mils. The copper foil thickness is around 1 oz. to 10 oz.

The metal core or the metal backing plate is the thickest material in the board. The most frequently used thicknesses are 1mm, 1.5mm, and 3.2mm. The metal layer offers rigidity, maintains the circuit flat, and provides sufficient thickness so that it's compatible with the mounting hardware implemented on standard boards. The exposed metal plate side of the board isn't coated with a surface finish or solder mask.

Thickness of MCPCB
Single-layer metal core PCB cross-section.

Copper 35µm
Dielectric thickness 100µm
Dielectric thermal conductivity 1 to 3 W/mK
Aluminum core thickness 1.5mm
Thermally Conductive Prepreg
The prepreg electrically isolates the copper circuitry layer from the metal layer and assists in heat transfer between the two layers. The prepreg disperses the heat generated by the components to the base metal at the earliest. Higher the thermal conductivity of this layer, the better the heat transfer. Also, lower the thermal impedance better the heat transfer.

Thermally Conductive Prepreg in MCPCB
Thermally conductive prepreg in MCPCB.

However, the higher the heat transfer rate associated with the prepreg, the higher will be the cost of it. The dielectric thickness also plays a role in heat transfer. Usually, the thickness ranges from 2 mils to 6 mils.

Caution
A major factor to keep in mind during the design process of an MCPCB is to minimize the use of plated through-hole components. Instead, implement SMT components. Since the bottom layer is a metal, PTH or NPTH with conductive component leads inserted to it will lead to a short. If PTHs are implemented, then do remember to isolate the metal from the through-hole. To achieve this, the metal core is drilled approximately 40 mils to 50 mils larger than the plated through-hole. Later, these holes are filled with non-conductive epoxy filler and then pressed.

Multilayer Metal Core PCB
Multilayer metal core board.

After pressing the metal core, the remaining filler compounds are removed from the surface. Following this, the boards are prepared for the lamination with the inner layer cores. Right after lamination, the plated through holes are drilled and the rest of the process follows as per the standard manufacturing protocol.

Unlike the standard LED PCBs which require vias under the components for heat dissipation, the MCPCBs eliminate the necessity of these kinds of vias since the metal core performs the heat dissipation. Hence, this makes the work easier for the manufacturers as the drilling process is kept minimal. After this process, if it's a 1-layer MCPCB, the electroless plating process is bypassed and proceeds straight to circuit imaging. Hereafter, the metal core boards follow the same procedure that a standard FR4 board would follow.

Metal Core PCB Stack-Up
The stack-up should be symmetrical on either side of the metal core in a multilayer board. To elaborate, the number of layers on top of the core should be equal to the layers on the bottom. Similar to any other standard printed circuit boards, the copper symmetry is also preferred. The symmetry is maintained to evade warpage issues.

Metal Copper Cladding

Metal Core PCB Vs FR4 PCB
Metal core boards transfer heat 8 to 9 times faster than FR4 PCBs. These metal core laminates keep the heat-generating components cooler by dissipating heat at a faster rate. The dielectric material is kept as thin as possible so that it creates the shortest path from the heat source to the metal backing plate. This assists in quicker heat dissipation. The dielectric material thickness will usually be in the range of 0.003" to 0.006".

Parameters MCPCBs Standard FR4 PCBs
Conductivity Higher thermal conductivity, 1W/mK to 7W/mK Low thermal conductivity, typical value ranges 0.3W/mK and 0.4W/mK
Thickness Thickness variations are limited. Depends on the available backing plate thickness and dielectric sheet thickness Wide range of thicknesses available
Thermal relief Metal cores dissipate heat quickly. Eliminates vias for heat transfer Heat transfer rate is lower. Involves vias for heat transfer
Plated through-hole PTH not available in 1-layer PCB. Components are surface-mounted Implements PTH
Machining process Involves the same standard process except that the v-scoring process incorporates diamond-coated saw blades for cutting through metal. Standard machining process that includes drilling, routing, v-scoring, countersink, counterbore.
Soldermask White color for LED boards. Applied only on the top layer Includes dark colors like green, red, blue, and black
Rigidity Ability to handle shock and vibration. 2 to 4 times stiffer than FR4 or polyimide designs. Lesser rigidity compared to metal core
Economy Relatively expensive than FR4 boards Less expensive
Applications
MCPCBs are most widely found in LED technologies. Some of the popular applications are:

LED
Backlight unit
General lighting
Automotive
Moto drives
Solid-state relays
Power converters
Electric/Hybrid motor control
Solar panels
Motion control
Photovoltaic
Difference Between Heat Sinks and Heat Spreaders
Heat sinks and heat spreaders on a PCB
Depiction of heat sinks and heat spreaders on a chip.

Since we are talking about heat dissipation a lot here, allow me to clear out the difference between heat sinks and heat spreaders for you.

Here, the basic idea is to dissipate heat from the heat-generating components, like the processors, to the surrounding air medium.

Heat sink and heat spreader in PCB
Heat sink (left) and heat spreader (right) in a PCB. Image credit: www.adl-usa.com

Heat Sinks
Heat sink in a PCB
Heat sink in a PCB. Image credit: Shutterstock

Heat sinks maximize the surface area and airflow to dissipate heat. The surface area is increased by implementing pins or fins on the surface, and the airflow is done by using built-in cooling fans. In some cases, heat sinks dissipate heat at a faster rate compared to heat spreaders.

Heat Sink with Fins
Heat sink with fins.

Basically, there are two kinds of heat sinks: passive and active. The passive heat sinks have no moving parts whereas the active ones do. When the volume of heat is too much to dissipate then the active heat sinks are used. Here, the system is cooled by forcing air or other fluids through it.

Heat sinks are generally implemented in CPUs, GPUs, power transistors, and switching devices.

Heat Spreaders
Unlike heat sinks, heat spreaders have a flat surface on the top. Instead of fans and pins, the heat spreaders are pressed directly against another large flat surface. The heat spreaders do not cool the region by forced air cooling or any other liquid fluid medium. They transfer heat to a cooler area where the heat is dissipated safely away from the components. Heat spreaders are ideal for systems that operate under extreme shock and vibration. Also, they are used in systems that are sealed and isolated from the environment.

With the rising demand for printed circuit boards that are of high power and high component density, thermal management plays a crucial role in the reliability of these boards. The implementation of metal cores can greatly assist in thermal management. However, thermal management depends on some factors such as the amount of heat generated by components, the environment, the design, and the enclosure.

The PCB designers should perceive everything that influences the temperature right from the concept stage. Don't sweat, think ahead and implement the right substrate for your PCBs.

<div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">When the temperature of a PCB assembly starts rising, the owner of that board begins to sweat profusely. Clearly, they feel the heat more than the components on the board do. Jokes apart, don't lose your cool, metal cores are here for you. The rapid development of the LED industry, especially in the high-power LED lighting, has raised concerns about heat dissipation. These LEDs are usually mounted on PCBs and thus can create problems within the circuit. Without the right technique, heat dissipation will hinder the performance of electronic devices that run on high-power. The implementation of metal cores in these kinds of applications proves to solve this problem. What is a Metal Core PCB? Heat Dissipation in MCPCB Heat dissipation in metal core PCBs. A metal core printed circuit board (MCPCB) also known as thermal PCB, incorporates a metal material as its base as opposed to the traditional FR4, for the heat spreader fragment of the board. Heat builds up due to some electronic components during the operation of the board. The purpose of the metal is to divert this heat away from critical board components and towards less crucial areas such as the metal heatsink backing or metallic core. Hence, these PCBs are apt for thermal management. In a multilayer MCPCB, the layers will be evenly distributed on each side of the metal core. For instance, in a 12-layer board, the metal core will be at the center with 6 layers on the top and 6 layers at the bottom. MCPCBs are also referred to as insulated metallic substrate (IMS), insulated metal PCBs (IMPCB), thermal clad PCBs, and metal-clad PCBs. In this article, we will be using the acronym MCPCB to avoid ambiguity. The MCPCBs are made up of thermal insulating layers, metal plates, and metal copper foil. The basic structure of MCPCB comprises of the following: Solder mask Circuit layer Copper layer - 1oz. to 6oz. (most commonly used 1oz. to 2oz.) Dielectric layer Metal core layer Heat sink Types of Metal Bases Utilized in MCPCBs Aluminum substrate - The aluminum printed circuit boards offer good heat dissipation and heat transferring ability. Since they are light in weight, the aluminum core PCBs find their purpose in LED lighting, audio frequency apparatus, and communication electronic equipment. Here, the thickness of the core ranges between 40 mils and 120 mils, with 40 mils and 60 mils being the most commonly used. 8mm to 2mm aluminum thickness 5W/(mK) and 2.0W/(mK) thermal conductivity Greater than 9lb/in peeling strength Solder resistance: SF: 288℃, >180 sec. >3000V breakdown voltage 03 dielectric loss angle UL 94V-0 flammability 18" x 24" panel size Copper base (copper core or heavy copper) - The copper core boards feature better performance than aluminum. But customers generally choose aluminum since copper is relatively expensive. Also, copper cores are heavier and involve a tough machining process. Various Base Metals and Their Properties The thermal conductivity of the metal core PCB dielectric material is measured in Watts per meter Kelvin (W/mK). Metal base material Thermal conductivity (W/mK) Thermal expansion (ppm/K) Features Aluminum 5052 H32 138 25 Al-Mg-Cr alloy Suitable for bending, mechanical forming, low price Aluminum 6061 T6 167 25 Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloy Suitable for CNC machining and V-cut scoring, mid-price Copper C110 386 17 Pure Cu Low CTE, high thermal conductivity, Relatively expensive compared to aluminum Why Metal Core PCBs? Accumulation of too much heat in printed circuit boards lead to malfunctions in the devices. Electronic devices that generate a considerable amount of heat cannot always be cooled using conventional fans. Conductive cooling through metal core boards is an ideal option. In conductive cooling, the heat is transferred from one hot part to a cooler part by direct contact. This works well since heat constantly seeks to move to any object or medium that is cooler. Advantages of MCPCB These boards possess the ability to integrate a dielectric polymer layer with high thermal conductivity for lower thermal resistance. The higher the conductivity of the material, the faster the heat transfer. The metal boards can be etched to control heat flow away from components Boards with aluminum, tend to be lighter in weight than ceramics. Metal substrates are long-lasting and are more conductive than epoxy products. Metals are non-toxic and are recyclable. Implemented in high vibration applications. The components don't fall off since the core reduces the vibration. Manufacturing MCPCB In a typical single-sided LED MCPCB, the circuitry layer of copper foil is bonded to a layer of thermally conductive dielectric material. This dielectric layer is further bonded to a thicker layer of metal which can be either Aluminum 5052 (5052H32), Aluminum 6061 (6061T6), or Copper C1100. LED Metal Core PCB Cross-Section Typical LED metal core PCB cross-section Thickness of the Dielectric Layer and the Metal Core The core is made up of a metal plate of a particular thickness that dissipates heat. The thickness is in the range of 30 mils to 125 mils. The copper foil thickness is around 1 oz. to 10 oz. The metal core or the metal backing plate is the thickest material in the board. The most frequently used thicknesses are 1mm, 1.5mm, and 3.2mm. The metal layer offers rigidity, maintains the circuit flat, and provides sufficient thickness so that it's compatible with the mounting hardware implemented on standard boards. The exposed metal plate side of the board isn't coated with a surface finish or solder mask. Thickness of MCPCB Single-layer metal core PCB cross-section. Copper 35µm Dielectric thickness 100µm Dielectric thermal conductivity 1 to 3 W/mK Aluminum core thickness 1.5mm Thermally Conductive Prepreg The prepreg electrically isolates the copper circuitry layer from the metal layer and assists in heat transfer between the two layers. The prepreg disperses the heat generated by the components to the base metal at the earliest. Higher the thermal conductivity of this layer, the better the heat transfer. Also, lower the thermal impedance better the heat transfer. Thermally Conductive Prepreg in MCPCB Thermally conductive prepreg in MCPCB. However, the higher the heat transfer rate associated with the prepreg, the higher will be the cost of it. The dielectric thickness also plays a role in heat transfer. Usually, the thickness ranges from 2 mils to 6 mils. Caution A major factor to keep in mind during the design process of an MCPCB is to minimize the use of plated through-hole components. Instead, implement SMT components. Since the bottom layer is a metal, PTH or NPTH with conductive component leads inserted to it will lead to a short. If PTHs are implemented, then do remember to isolate the metal from the through-hole. To achieve this, the metal core is drilled approximately 40 mils to 50 mils larger than the plated through-hole. Later, these holes are filled with non-conductive epoxy filler and then pressed. Multilayer Metal Core PCB Multilayer metal core board. After pressing the metal core, the remaining filler compounds are removed from the surface. Following this, the boards are prepared for the lamination with the inner layer cores. Right after lamination, the plated through holes are drilled and the rest of the process follows as per the standard manufacturing protocol. Unlike the standard LED PCBs which require vias under the components for heat dissipation, the MCPCBs eliminate the necessity of these kinds of vias since the metal core performs the heat dissipation. Hence, this makes the work easier for the manufacturers as the drilling process is kept minimal. After this process, if it's a 1-layer MCPCB, the electroless plating process is bypassed and proceeds straight to circuit imaging. Hereafter, the metal core boards follow the same procedure that a standard FR4 board would follow. Metal Core PCB Stack-Up The stack-up should be symmetrical on either side of the metal core in a multilayer board. To elaborate, the number of layers on top of the core should be equal to the layers on the bottom. Similar to any other standard printed circuit boards, the copper symmetry is also preferred. The symmetry is maintained to evade warpage issues. Metal Copper Cladding Metal Core PCB Vs FR4 PCB Metal core boards transfer heat 8 to 9 times faster than FR4 PCBs. These metal core laminates keep the heat-generating components cooler by dissipating heat at a faster rate. The dielectric material is kept as thin as possible so that it creates the shortest path from the heat source to the metal backing plate. This assists in quicker heat dissipation. The dielectric material thickness will usually be in the range of 0.003" to 0.006". Parameters MCPCBs Standard FR4 PCBs Conductivity Higher thermal conductivity, 1W/mK to 7W/mK Low thermal conductivity, typical value ranges 0.3W/mK and 0.4W/mK Thickness Thickness variations are limited. Depends on the available backing plate thickness and dielectric sheet thickness Wide range of thicknesses available Thermal relief Metal cores dissipate heat quickly. Eliminates vias for heat transfer Heat transfer rate is lower. Involves vias for heat transfer Plated through-hole PTH not available in 1-layer PCB. Components are surface-mounted Implements PTH Machining process Involves the same standard process except that the v-scoring process incorporates diamond-coated saw blades for cutting through metal. Standard machining process that includes drilling, routing, v-scoring, countersink, counterbore. Soldermask White color for LED boards. Applied only on the top layer Includes dark colors like green, red, blue, and black Rigidity Ability to handle shock and vibration. 2 to 4 times stiffer than FR4 or polyimide designs. Lesser rigidity compared to metal core Economy Relatively expensive than FR4 boards Less expensive Applications MCPCBs are most widely found in LED technologies. Some of the popular applications are: LED Backlight unit General lighting Automotive Moto drives Solid-state relays Power converters Electric/Hybrid motor control Solar panels Motion control Photovoltaic Difference Between Heat Sinks and Heat Spreaders Heat sinks and heat spreaders on a PCB Depiction of heat sinks and heat spreaders on a chip. Since we are talking about heat dissipation a lot here, allow me to clear out the difference between heat sinks and heat spreaders for you. Here, the basic idea is to dissipate heat from the heat-generating components, like the processors, to the surrounding air medium. Heat sink and heat spreader in PCB Heat sink (left) and heat spreader (right) in a PCB. Image credit: <a href="http://www.adl-usa.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.adl-usa.com</a> Heat Sinks Heat sink in a PCB Heat sink in a PCB. Image credit: Shutterstock Heat sinks maximize the surface area and airflow to dissipate heat. The surface area is increased by implementing pins or fins on the surface, and the airflow is done by using built-in cooling fans. In some cases, heat sinks dissipate heat at a faster rate compared to heat spreaders. Heat Sink with Fins Heat sink with fins. Basically, there are two kinds of heat sinks: passive and active. The passive heat sinks have no moving parts whereas the active ones do. When the volume of heat is too much to dissipate then the active heat sinks are used. Here, the system is cooled by forcing air or other fluids through it. Heat sinks are generally implemented in CPUs, GPUs, power transistors, and switching devices. Heat Spreaders Unlike heat sinks, heat spreaders have a flat surface on the top. Instead of fans and pins, the heat spreaders are pressed directly against another large flat surface. The heat spreaders do not cool the region by forced air cooling or any other liquid fluid medium. They transfer heat to a cooler area where the heat is dissipated safely away from the components. Heat spreaders are ideal for systems that operate under extreme shock and vibration. Also, they are used in systems that are sealed and isolated from the environment. With the rising demand for printed circuit boards that are of high power and high component density, thermal management plays a crucial role in the reliability of these boards. The implementation of metal cores can greatly assist in thermal management. However, thermal management depends on some factors such as the amount of heat generated by components, the environment, the design, and the enclosure. The PCB designers should perceive everything that influences the temperature right from the concept stage. Don't sweat, think ahead and implement the right substrate for your PCBs.</div>

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