-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueThe Growing Industry
In this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we talk with leading economic experts, advocacy specialists in Washington, D.C., and PCB company leadership to get a well-rounded picture of what’s happening in the industry today. Don’t miss it.
The Sustainability Issue
Sustainability is one of the most widely used terms in business today, especially for electronics and manufacturing but what does it mean to you? We explore the environmental, business, and economic impacts.
The Fabricator’s Guide to IPC APEX EXPO
This issue previews many of the important events taking place at this year's show and highlights some changes and opportunities. So, buckle up. We are counting down to IPC APEX EXPO 2024.
- Articles
Article Highlights
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
Lightning Speed Laminates: Smaller Circuits--Material Properties and Thermal Issues
August 29, 2016 | John Coonrod, Rogers CorporationEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Many PCB applications experience thermal cycling as part of their normal end-use operation. Some PCB assemblies used in outdoor enclosures may see changes from 75–160°F in a single day, and over the course of several months, the temperature swing can be much greater. If the circuit design is optimized at room temperature around 75°F, then at 160°F, the electrical performance can be very different depending on the design and the circuit material used.
Some RF PCB designs may be more sensitive to thermal changes than others. For example, designs with small circuit features can be more sensitive to performance change due to thermal issues as compared to circuits with larger features. Since high-frequency circuits have small wavelengths, the circuit features are also small. Also, with mmWave applications, a thinner circuit is needed in order to have proper wave propagation properties. Lastly, if a circuit has features which are tightly coupled, where a small space must be maintained between circuit features, that design can be more problematic for consistent electrical performance within a varying temperature environment.
Coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is typically considered for PCB reliability, but it can also have an impact on circuit performance for applications exposed to varying temperatures. Due to CTE, a circuit will change physical dimensions when the temperature changes. If the circuit has small features or tightly coupled features, the physical change of the circuit dimensions can cause a shift in electrical performance.
Another material property which further complicates designing for significant temperature variation is temperature coefficient of dielectric constant (TCDk). The TCDk is a property that all materials have and is a measure of how much the material will change dielectric constant (Dk) with a change in temperature. One example: If a circuit is using a material with a high TCDk, such as 400 ppm/°C, the dielectric constant of the material will change 0.020 with a 46°C change in temperature. This temperature change is equivalent to the temperature range previously mentioned from 75°F, then at 160°F. The Dk change will impact the impedance, phase response and other circuit attributes. This impact would be in addition to the impact of the physical dimensional change of small circuit features which would occur over the temperature range if the circuit was designed for mmWave applications.
There are also issues associated with circuit attenuation or RF losses, due to thermal changes. The analog of the TCDk to dissipation factor is the temperature coefficient of dissipation factor (TCDf). Again, every material has this property and it is a measure of how much the dissipation factor (Df) will change with a change in temperature. An RF circuit using a material with a high TCDf will have more RF losses with an increase in operating temperature.
To read this article, which appeared in the August 2016 issue of The PCB Design Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
KIC’s Miles Moreau to Present Profiling Basics and Best Practices at SMTA Wisconsin Chapter PCBA Profile Workshop
01/25/2024 | KICKIC, a renowned pioneer in thermal process and temperature measurement solutions for electronics manufacturing, announces that Miles Moreau, General Manager, will be a featured speaker at the SMTA Wisconsin Chapter In-Person PCBA Profile Workshop.
The Drive Toward UHDI and Substrates
09/20/2023 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamPanasonic’s Darren Hitchcock spoke with the I-Connect007 Editorial Team on the complexities of moving toward ultra HDI manufacturing. As we learn in this conversation, the number of shifting constraints relative to traditional PCB fabrication is quite large and can sometimes conflict with each other.
Standard Of Excellence: The Products of the Future
09/19/2023 | Anaya Vardya -- Column: Standard of ExcellenceIn my last column, I discussed cutting-edge innovations in printed circuit board technology, focusing on innovative trends in ultra HDI, embedded passives and components, green PCBs, and advanced substrate materials. This month, I’m following up with the products these new PCB technologies are destined for. Why do we need all these new technologies?
Experience ViTrox's State-of-the-Art Offerings at SMTA Guadalajara 2023 Presented by Sales Channel Partner—SMTo Engineering
09/18/2023 | ViTroxViTrox, which aims to be the world’s most trusted technology company, is excited to announce that our trusted Sales Channel Partner (SCP) in Mexico, SMTo Engineering, S.A. de C.V., will be participating in SMTA Guadalajara Expo & Tech Forum. They will be exhibiting in Booth #911 from the 25th to the 26th of October 2023, at the Expo Guadalajara in Jalisco, Mexico.
Intel Unveils Industry-Leading Glass Substrates to Meet Demand for More Powerful Compute
09/18/2023 | IntelIntel announced one of the industry’s first glass substrates for next-generation advanced packaging, planned for the latter part of this decade.