What is a metal core PCB and why it is important in the electronics industry

Metal core PCB is a new technology in the PCB industry. It has been applied to some high end applications and it seems to be the future of the industry. It is a unique technology that has been widely used in many high-end and high-frequency products in the world.

It provides lots of benefits for users, especially for high performance applications.

The following are the key features:Minimize the Signal Transmission Delay

Because of the separation of the ground plane and power plane, it reduces the electromagnetic interference (EMI), which can reduce signal transmission delay.

Good Decoupling Performance

MCPCB will significantly lower current density if we use it as analog and digital circuits interface because there is a gap between the two planes. As we know, the current density is one of the main factors to generate EMI. In addition, unlike traditional PCB, there is no longer any risk of short-circuiting from circuit to ground plane due to insufficient decoupling capability.

Better Encapsulation Quality

It can provide better encapsulation for printed circuit boards with good hermetic results. It can be widely used in military areas like missiles, avionics, radar, and so on.

Why MCPCBs are getting popular?

Metal core PCB is a new kind of printed circuit board, which is widely used in high density electronic products. It is the upgraded version of the common multilayer PCB, which is made with 2-3 layers structure. The difference between them is that this type of PCB has a metal core in its base material. It is widely used in electronic products such as high power LED light bulbs, energy saving lamps, LCD TV, monitor and so on. In view of their wide usage, they are getting popular.

There are a few options for creating the inner layers of your PCB. One is to use FR-4 (or glass reinforced epoxy laminate). Another option is to use metal core PCB. It is also referred to as organic printed circuit board (OPCB or OPPCB).

Designing PCBs

Tutorials on how to design PCBs can be found on YouTube and other sites. The process involves using a CAD program, like EagleCAD, or KiCad, which allows you to design a two dimensional layout of the various components that are to be placed onto the board. You can then send the files to a service bureau that will manufacture the board for you using either FR-4 or MCPCBs.

When deciding which type of PCB you want to produce, it is important to realize there are certain attributes of each type of board that may be more suitable for your particular project. Glass reinforced epoxy laminate offers a lot of flexibility for prototyping, but it is not ideal for high volume manufacturing because it has poor solder masking properties and higher overall costs than others options. FR-4 is an excellent starter material and generally has good solder masking properties. However, it does have lower mechanical strength than metal core printed circuit boards.

Metal Core PCBs are an ideal choice for several products and applications

It is a type of multi-layer PCB that uses a central metallic core to reduce the amount of copper needed on the substrate. The use of metal also allows for lower-tolerance trace widths and smaller spacing between components, resulting in reduced size and weight.

Yields on this type of PCB production tend to be lower than those of regular boards, as they require larger amounts of material and are more difficult to produce. However, they are known for their low thermal expansion coefficient and increased resistance to electromagnetic interference (EMI). This makes them ideal for high-speed circuits, as well as electrical devices that must operate in harsh environments or be highly resistant to EMI.

They can be made with foil or laminate metallization processes; however, foil lamination tends to be more economical due to its higher tolerance for defects. As a result, foil lamination is the most popular metallization process for this kind of PCB.