What is aluminum core pcb material?

Aluminum core PCB material, also known as metal core PCB (MCPCB), is a type of printed circuit board that has a layer of aluminum as its base material.

The aluminum core provides excellent thermal conductivity, making it ideal for applications that require efficient heat dissipation, such as LED lighting, power electronics, and automotive electronics.

Andwin provide thermal pad metal core PCB for customer, email us now for you PCB quote,
Email is : mcpcb@andwinmcpcb.com


What Is aluminum core pcb material?

The aluminum core PCB material typically consists of three layers: a copper layer for electrical conductivity and signal transmission, a dielectric layer for insulation,
and an aluminum layer for heat dissipation. The dielectric layer is usually made of a thermally conductive material such as ceramic or epoxy resin.

Aluminum core PCBs offer several advantages over traditional FR4 PCBs, including:

  1. Better thermal management:
    Aluminum core PCBs can dissipate heat more efficiently than FR4 PCBs, which can help improve the reliability and lifespan of electronic devices.
  2. Higher power handling capacity:
    The superior thermal conductivity of aluminum core PCBs allows them to handle higher power loads than FR4 PCBs.
  3. Reduced size and weight:
    Aluminum core PCBs can be made thinner and lighter than FR4 PCBs, making them ideal for applications where space is limited.
  4. Improved mechanical stability:
    The aluminum core provides greater rigidity and stability to the PCB, reducing the risk of damage from vibration or shock.

Overall, aluminum core PCB material is a reliable and efficient choice for electronic applications that require high thermal conductivity and effective heat dissipation.

What can aluminum core pcb material do

Aluminum core PCB material can:

  1. Dissipate heat:
    Aluminum is an excellent conductor of heat, making it ideal for applications that generate a lot of heat.
  2. Increase durability:
    Aluminum core PCBs are more durable than traditional PCBs, making them ideal for harsh environments.
  3. Reduce weight:
    Aluminum core PCBs are lighter than traditional PCBs, making them ideal for applications where weight is a concern.
  4. Improve performance:
    Aluminum core PCBs can improve the performance of electronic devices by reducing thermal stress and improving heat dissipation.
  5. Provide electromagnetic shielding:
    Aluminum core PCBs can provide electromagnetic shielding, which is important for applications that require high levels of electromagnetic compatibility.
  6. Increase reliability:
    Aluminum core PCBs are less likely to fail due to thermal stress, making them more reliable than traditional PCBs.

Multilayer metal core pcb

Multilayer MCPCB could layout more circuit, the MCPCB smaller much.

This arrangement is made so that the heat can dissipate through the metal core and transmit to the chassis.

Most of the LED or analog devices are populated with considerably larger boards.
The surface of the boards finishes by dissipating the heat.

While using the MCPCBs, it is obliged to take proper caution because it is constructed with some complex and complicated metal layers laminated with FR4 based on glass material. 

The chemistry for lamination differs while the board is fabricated.
If the board is bonded properly then there might be voids below the lamination and caution is necessary.

The dissipated fixture of heat is anticipated from the metal core which is needed to be defined and designed carefully.

Applications Of aluminum pcb

The technology of the metal core PCB is ideal for its applications that generate immense heat and have difficulty being cool down using conventional fans or other cooling methods.

MCPCBs play an integral role to achieve a high illumination with fewer requirements than LEDs require.
The fabrication process of metal core PCB is helpful for the applications
Since the MCPCBs are most often used in LED technologies for producing a certain illumination the light-emitting diodes releases the heat in applications like:

– General lighting
– Automotive systems
– Industrial, telecom, power supplies, and high voltage regulators types of power converters
– Photovoltaic
– Street safety lightings and streetlights
– Backlight applications

Military and aerospace are another two other sectors appropriate to utilize the benefits of metal core PCBs in their applications.

These sectors are quite sensitive and need to endure frequent thermal cycling, limits of temperature and humidity, along with repeated mechanical shocks.

The MCPCB deals according to the operational requirements only if better structural veracity and thermal conductivity enabling withstanding greater shocks.

The higher the conductivity of thermal, the better it is for the temperature distribution throughout the boards as it ensures a uniform for thermal cycling.

It also stops forming hot spots before near to the active components.
Other than these, MCPCB works great in solar panels and motion control applications.

The combination of a metal core with HDI PCB technology can create an advanced circuit technology including microwave RF PCB, flex PCB, and rigid-flex PCBs.

As the demand for PCBs is high due to the remarkable benefits, the metal core PCB is the most widely used one among all the others.

It ensures high circuitry density, thermal management, and enhanced reliability for enhanced performance.

Thermal conductivity of 2 Layers thermal Pad MPCB

Thermal pad area is 385 W/m.k

Capability of Metal core PCB

Metal core PCB Capability
ItemTechnical specification
StandardAdvanced
Board thicknessMaximum (mm)3.05.0
Panel sizeMaximum (mm)600×1170/
Layer countAluminum PCB1-8L10 L
Copper PCB1-8L10 L
Iron PCB1/
ceramics PCB1-2/
Thermal ConductivityAluminum PCB(w/m.k)0.8 to 12
Copper PCB(w/m.k)2.0-378/
ceramics PCB(w/m.k)24
DrillingMinimum drill diameter (mm)1.00.8
2 Layer ALPCB Via0.3/
Lines/spacesMinimum0.2mm/0.2mm0.15mm/0.15mm
MaterialChao Shun(CCAF)(China)Yes/
Hua Dian(China)Yes/
Chin Shi(TaiWan)Yes/
Ventec(TaiWang)Yes/
ITEQ(Tai Wan)Yes/
ShengYi(China)Yes/
Laird(US)Yes/
Bergquist(US)Yes/
Other brand per customerYes/
Final finishingHASL Lead FreeYes/
HASLYes/
ENIGYes/
ENIPIGYes/
OSPYes/
Immersion SilverYes/
Immersion Tin/YES

2 Layers direct thermal path copper core pcb application

2 Layers direct thermal path copper core pcb are designed to dissipate heat generated by high-power LEDs,
which helps to increase the lifespan of the LED and improve its performance.
The aluminium base acts as a heat sink, which absorbs and dissipates the heat generated by the LED.

The 2 Layers direct thermal path copper core pcb is made by laminating a thin layer of copper onto an copper substrate.
The copper layer is then etched to create the circuit pattern.
2 Layers direct thermal path copper core pcb for LED lighting applications are available in various sizes and thicknesses, depending on the specific requirements of the application.
They are also available in single-sided, double-sided, and multi-layered configurations.

About Andwin MCPCB

Andwin Ciurcuits MCPCB davision  set up on Feb. 2006.
Focus on  providing metal core PCB for customer
In LED field and power supply field.
We can meet all your MCPCB manufacturing needs,
From single-sided Aluminum to 
complex multilayered metal clad substrate PCBs
And from prototype through production.

The following is a list of the services and products 

We offer:
• Metal Core PCB
• Thermal PAD MCPCB
• Aluminum PCB
• Copper based PCB
• Double sided Aluminum PCB

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