metal core pcb design

Metal core PCB design is a type of printed circuit board that uses a metal core as its base

material instead of the traditional fiberglass. The metal core provides better heat

dissipation and thermal conductivity, making it ideal for high-power applications. In this

article, we will discuss the benefits of metal core PCB design and the factors to consider

when designing one.

High Quality metal core pcb manufacturer in China

copper metal core pcb

More Knowleage about metal core PCB


What Is Metal Core PCB?

Metal Core PCB is the metal core object for PCBs. 
It is infused from a technology developed to overcome the thermal limitations. 
Most of these PCBs are made of Aluminum core, copper core, and Steel Alloy.

The purpose is to forward the heat from the critical board components to the lesser critical areas.

Base materials of MPCB are the alternative to FR4 or CEM3 boards.
The metal core is far better than the FR4 boards and able to perform at high temperatures.

There is another type of metal-based PCB that is Insulated Metal Substrate PCB that is effective for electrical isolation between the copper and metal core. 
It uses a special dielectric specifically customized for high thermal conductivity.

Factors to Consider When Designing Metal Core PCBs

1. Thermal Management

When designing a metal core PCB, it is important to consider the thermal management

requirements of the application. This includes factors such as the power dissipation of the

components, the ambient temperature, and the required operating temperature range. Proper

thermal management is critical to ensuring the reliability and longevity of the PCB.

2. Material Selection

The choice of metal for the core of the PCB is also an important consideration. Aluminum is

a common choice due to its low cost and good thermal conductivity, but other materials such

as copper and brass may be more appropriate for certain applications. The thickness of the

metal core should also be carefully selected based on the thermal and mechanical

requirements of the application.

3. Component Placement and Routing

The placement and routing of components on a metal core PCB can have a significant impact

on its thermal performance. Components that generate a lot of heat should be placed in

areas with good thermal conductivity, such as near the metal core. The routing of traces

should also be carefully considered to minimize the thermal resistance and ensure efficient

heat dissipation.

Benefits of Metal Core PCB Design

1. Better Heat Dissipation

One of the main benefits of metal core PCB design is its ability to dissipate heat more

efficiently than traditional PCBs. The metal core acts as a heat sink, absorbing and

dissipating heat away from the components. This is particularly important for high-power

applications, where excessive heat can damage components or cause them to fail.

2. Improved Thermal Conductivity

Metal core PCBs also have improved thermal conductivity compared to traditional PCBs. The

metal core provides a more direct path for heat to flow away from the components, reducing

the risk of thermal damage. This is especially important for applications that require high

levels of reliability and longevity.

3. Enhanced Mechanical Strength

Metal core PCBs are also more mechanically robust than traditional PCBs. The metal core

provides a sturdy base for the components, reducing the risk of damage from vibration or

shock. This makes them ideal for applications that require high levels of durability and

resistance to environmental factors.

Conclusion

Metal core PCB design offers several benefits over traditional PCBs, including better heat

dissipation, improved thermal conductivity, and enhanced mechanical strength. When

designing a metal core PCB, it is important to consider factors such as thermal management,

material selection, and component placement and routing to ensure optimal performance and

reliability. With careful design and consideration of these factors, metal core PCBs can

provide a reliable and efficient solution for high-power applications.

Thermal Management Of MCPCB

Thermal management is important for the electronic systems to encompass the processes along with the technologies.

The main objective of thermal management is to ensure the temperature remains consistent for the functional and absolute maximum limits.

The temperature exceeding the limit may cause destruction physically or may lead to a system failure.
Therefore, metal core PCB is essential because efficient thermal management increases the feasibility, enhances durability, and reduces the failure rates.

It also enables the high circuit density design for the users.
Basically, thermal conductivity is a specific material from a property with the ability to conduct proper heat management as soon as it enters into the system.

The conventional PCBs share less thermal conductivity and also not capable enough to meet the increased demand for the thermal constraint required for high power dissipation PCB.

The best alternative to solve this problem is the Metal Core Printed Circuit Board.

Benefits Of Metal Core PCB

To ensure the longevity of the electronic systems like LED-based Solid State Lighting and other heat-emitting applications, metal core PCB fabrication can be beneficial.

It always enables quick heat removal from the LED devices to prevent from burning.
A lower thermal resistance can be acquired to incorporate a dielectric polymer layer along with a high thermal conductivity level.

The laminates in the MCPCB dissipates the heat ensuring the perfect heat management and by this, a longer operating life will be assured along with the maximized performance.

The MCPCB is 8 to 9 times faster than the FR4 PCBs as it laminates the dissipated heat to keep the heat-generating components cooler.

The reliability feature of the device also becomes polished. The mounted components in LED devices practices a great effect on solving the problem related to overheating.

The thermal conductivity of the electronic products has the advantages for:

   -Higher conductivity of material with faster heat emission
   -The imprinted metal boards can control the heat flow among the components
   -The aluminum boards are weighted lighter than the ceramics
   -The metal substrates are long-lasting and conductive
   -Appropriate for the rugged applications so that the components never fall off from the core reduction or vibration

The metal core PCBs offer natural reflectivity for any sort of light traveling towards the substrate and augments the brightness from devices.

The green and red indicators of the power button are systemized to reduce the risk of an unexpected situation.
Maintaining the heat to keep the devices cool creates a safety hazard that requires the light output to remain consistent.

The substrate materials are formulated to improve the reliability feature for various components of the application and dissipate efficiently and safely.

Applications Of Metal Core 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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