An aluminum PCB has a similar layout to any other PCB. It has a layer or layers of copper, solder mask and
silkscreen layered over it. Instead of having a fiberglass or plastic substrate, though, an aluminum circuit
board has a metal substrate. This base mainly contains a combination of aluminum. The metal core can consist
entirely of metal or have a combination of fiberglass and aluminum. Aluminum PCBs typically are single sided,
but can be double sided as well. Multilayer Aluminum PCBs are highly difficult to manufacture.
Omni manufactures aluminum printed circuit boards with a full selection of high performance and low-cost
materials from leading suppliers around the world. Aluminum PCB consists of a dielectric metal base with a
bonded copper circuit layer to create superior heat transfer to help cool components while eliminating problems
associated with managing fragile ceramics.
Omni works to be the best aluminum PCB manufacturer when it comes to exceeding all customer expectations. We
provide a wide range of electrical and thermally conductive interface pads, thermally conductive gap fillers,
thermal phase change materials and thermally conductive electrically insulating materials, as well as
specialized equipment for high volume manufacturing.
Performance of Aluminum PCB
1. Thermal Dissipation
Common PCB substrates, such as FR4, CEM3 are poor conductors of thermal. If the heat of electronic equipment
cannot be distributed in time, it will result in high temperature failure of electronic components. Aluminum
substrates can solve this thermal dissipation problem.
2. Thermal Expansion
Aluminum substrate PCB can effectively solve the thermal dissipation problem, so that the thermal expansion and
contraction problem of components on printed circuit boards with different substances can be alleviated, which
improves the durability and reliability of whole machine and electronic equipment. Aluminum substrate can solve
the SMT (surface mount technology) thermal expansion and contraction problems.
3. Dimensional Stability
Aluminum substrate printed circuit board has apparently higher stability than the insulating material of the
printed circuit board. When heated from 30 ° C to 140 ~ 150 ° C, the dimensional change of aluminum substrate is
only 2.5 ~ 3.0%.
4. Other Performance
Aluminum substrate printed circuit board has shielding effect, and can alternative brittle ceramic substrate.
Aluminum substrate also helps to improve the heat resistance and physical properties and reduce production costs
and labor.
Advantages of Aluminum PCB
1.Environmentally Friendly: Aluminum is non-toxic and recyclable. Manufacturing with aluminum is also conducive
to conserving energy due to its ease of assembly. For printed circuit board suppliers, using this metal helps
maintain the health of our planet.
2.Heat dissipation: High temperatures can cause severe damage to electronics, so it is wise to use a material
that can help dissipate heat. Aluminum can actually transfer heat away from vital components, thus minimizing
the harmful effect it could have on the circuit board.
3.Higher durability: Aluminum provides strength and durability to a product that ceramic or fiberglass bases
cannot. Aluminum is a sturdy base material that can reduce accidental breakage during manufacturing, handling,
and everyday use.
4.Lightweight: For its incredible durability, aluminum is a surprisingly lightweight metal. Aluminum adds
strength and resilience without adding on any additional weight.
Aluminum PCB Applications
Aluminum-backed PCBs are ideal for situations when thermal heat tolerance and dissipation requirements are very
high. PCBs clad with aluminum are more effective at directing thermal energy away from printed circuit board
components; therefore, they provide better temperature management for PCB designs.
Aluminum-backed designs can be as much as 10 times more efficient than fiberglass-backed designs when it comes
to removing thermal energy from circuit board components. The much higher thermal dissipation rate allows higher
power and higher density designs to be implemented.
Aluminum-backed PCBs are used more than ever for applications of high power and high thermal heat dissipation.
Although they were originally designed for high power switching supply applications, aluminum-backed printed
circuit boards have gained popularity in LED applications, including traffic lights, automotive lighting and
general lighting.
The use of aluminum designs allows the density of LEDs in the PCB design to be higher and for the mounted LEDs
to operate at higher currents while staying within specified temperature tolerances.