16+ Years Experience in PCB Manufacturing
Why Is High Tg PCB Needed?
What are high TG PCBs?
TG is the abbreviation of the transition temperature. It is the temperature at which the material will change from a rigid state to a flexible and rubbery state.
The TG value of a standard FR4 PCB is around 130-140 °C, so we usually regard the material with a TG value of 150 or above as high TG material. The most frequently used high TG material has a TG value between 170-180°C, but some FR4 material has a higher TG of around 200-220°C. Besides, polyimide material can reach a TG value of 250 or above.
The following points summarized by Viaison illustrate why high Tg PCB is needed.
- High Tg PCBs are more robust and can withstand higher temperatures than traditional circuit boards.
- The high PCB Tg can provide excellent thermal stability for components. Thus, the performance and reliability can be improved.
- High Tg printed circuit boards have increased chemical resistance, providing better protection from corrosive environments.
- They can reduce the risk of heat damage, given that they can disperse heat effectively.
- They also offer enhanced electrical insulation properties, allowing them to deal with higher voltage levels more efficiently.
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Viasion -- Providing the Right High Tg PCB for Your Applications
High Tg PCB: The Ultimate Guide
If you want to know more about PCBs made with High Tg material, here is the complete introduction. Here in Viasion, we can produce high TG FR4 PCBs, high TG Flex PCBs, high TG multilayer PCBs etc. Please get in touch with our sales team for any of your high TG PCB manufacturing demands.
Advantages of High Tg Value
- Increased temperature operation range
- Unaffected by moisture and other environmental variables
- Greater reliability for circuits subjected to shock or vibration
- Reduced risk of soldering defects
- Improved electrical performance and signal integrity
- Ability to be reworked without any significant loss of properties
- Greater protection against thermal ageing and de-lamination issues
- Longer shelf life for components due to increased temperature resistance
- Increased flexibility in design due to a broader range of available substrate materials
- Better conformation to industry requirements for certain types of applications, such as automotive or military designs.
Benefits of Using High Tg PCB
- High-temperature resistance
- High thermal stability
- High electrical insulation properties
- High durability and reliability
- Low cost of production
- Improved product performance
- Improved mechanical durability
Base Materials for High Tg PCB
The base materials for High Tg printed circuit boards are as follows.
- High Tg FR-4 material
- High-temperature solder mask
- RoHS-compliant, lead-free materials
- High Tg copper clad laminates and prepregs
- High-performance dielectric materials
- High-quality surface finishes for improved heat tolerance
- Specialized thermally conductive laminate materials
- High-density interconnect (HDI) materials
- High-temperature adhesives and sealants
Main Applications of High Tg PCB
- Computer
- Communication equipment
- Precision instruments and meters
- LED lighting industry
- Gateway
- Radio Frequency Identification
- Inverter
- Antenna Board
- Wireless Boosters
- Embedded System Development
- AC Power Supplies
Different Types of High Tg PCB
- High-Speed PCBs with High Tg
- High-Density Interconnect (HDI) PCBs with High Tg
- Multi-layer PCBs with High Tg
- High-Frequency PCBs with High Tg
- RF/Microwave PCBs with High Tg
- Rigid/ Flexible PCBS with High Tg
Considerations for High Tg PCB Designs and Layout
A few key factors must be considered when designing PCBs made by high TG materail to ensure successful and reliable performance. High Tg materials are prized for their superior heat resistance and reliability, so special attention needs to be paid when designing High Tg boards.
First, high Tg materials require careful component selection – high Tg boards are generally designed to hold components with high thermal requirements, such as high-speed processors and ASICs. High Tg boards also require careful trace design – high Tg traces need more space to prevent heat buildup, meaning that high Tg board layouts often have a higher component density than standard PCBs.
Additionally, high Tg boards must have adequate via design. High Tg vias have a higher thermal resistance than standard vias, meaning High Tg board designs need to be designed with both High Tg and standard vias to ensure the highest performance possible.
Finally, high Tg boards require careful power layout design. High Tg boards are susceptible to power delivery, and high Tg board designs must be carefully planned to ensure that all components receive adequate power.
High Tg PCBs can provide superior performance and reliability in various applications with proper attention to component selection, trace design, via design, and power layout design.
High Tg Circuit Parameters & Specification
High Tg Circuit Parameters & Specification refer to the parameters that define and quantify a high Tg circuit.
High Tg circuit parameters are essential to guarantee that the high Tg circuit can perform its design functions without any issues or breakdowns.
- Maximum operating temperature
- Thermal stability range
- Maximum overvoltage & Undervoltage ratings
- Current interruption capacity
- Maximum surge current ratings
- High-frequency response capabilities
- Bonding & grounding requirements
Troubleshooting High Tg PCB Fabrication Challenges
Regarding the fabrication of PCBs with high TG, specialized processes and equipment are required to construct them properly.
There are a few points to keep in mind to fabricate High Tg printed circuit boards. For example, they require higher temperatures than other printed circuit boards during the fabrication. They also need special organic finishes to withstand high temperatures and protect the board from damage. They may need thicker copper traces to withstand the extreme temperatures they are exposed to better.
When troubleshooting High Tg printed board fabrication challenges, it is essential to identify the root cause of the issue. It can be done by carefully examining the board design and working with experienced engineers and fabricators who understand this kind of PCBs.
Environmental Considerations for High Tg PCBs
Never ignore environmental considerations when selecting high Tg printed circuits for different applications.
According to Viasion’s experience in high Tg PCB boards manufacturing, environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations, humidity levels, and chemical exposure can impact its performance and should be considered when selecting them. In addition, they are not biodegradable, so proper handling is vital to ensure that they do not cause environmental pollution. They can also contain hazardous substances such as lead and cadmium, so their disposal should comply with all legal and environmental regulations.
We should be mindful of the potential environmental impacts linked to high Tg PCBs, ensuring that they are used responsibly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
“TG” is glass transition temperature”. It is easier to think that it is the highest temperature the resin can withstand still to be solid.
High Tg PCBs are circuit boards with high glass transition temperatures. The “Tg” is the temperature at which the material changes from solid to rubbery. We usually call high TG if it is more than 150°C.
High Tg PCBs have better temperature resistance.
High Tg PCBs’ heat, humidity, chemical, and stability resistance are improved.
High TG PCBs are widely used in almost all industrial areas, such as:
Power and energy
Automotive
Industrial equipment
Computer
Communication equipment
Precision instruments and meters
LED lighting industry
Gateway
Radio Frequency Identification
Inverter
Antenna Board
Wireless Boosters
Embedded System Development
Embedded Computer System
AC Power Supplies
The manufacturing process of high TG PCB is the same as production of standard TG PCB. The following describes the simplified manufacturing process for high Tg PCBs.
Sheet Cutting →Out layer copper processing→ Lamination → Drilling → Plated through hole → Exposure → Development → Pattern plating → De-filming →Etching→ De-tinning → AOI inspection → Solder mask → Silkscreen→ Surface finish → V-cut→ Cleaning → Testing → Packaging
High Tg PCBs are typically more expensive than standard printed circuit boards.
When designing high Tg PCBs, it is crucial to consider the materials cost, the layout of the circuit board, the high-temperature requirements, etc.
The testing methods are as follows.
Electrical Test
Automated Optical Inspection
Visual Defects Inspection
Solderability Test
Thermal Test
Tape Test (adhesion test)
Peel Test (conductor peel strength)
Ionic Contamination Test
Viasion will conduct a series of quality control measures for all the products. High Tg PCB is no exception. The following states the main ways of testing and inspection in Viasion.
DFM(Design for Manufacturing) Check
IQC (Incoming Quality inspection) for all materials
Micro-section inspection
Electrical Test for Open/short
Automated Optical Inspection
Visual and mechanical inspection after every process
First Article Inspection
Solderability Test
Thermal Test
Tape Test (adhesion test)
Peel Test (conductor peel strength)
Ionic Contamination Test
Inspect according to IPC-A-600 Class 2 and IPC Class 3
TDR Impedance test
Hi Potential Testing (Hi Pot PCB Testing).
Any other tests customers required
The following factors are the cost considerations for high Tg PCBs.
Base material
The dimensions of the PCB
The number of layers of the PCB
Copper layer thickness
PCB overall thickness
Layer structure
Surface treatment
Unique technology like blind and buried vias, via plugging, countersink holes, etc.
The expected lifespan of a High Tg PCB depends on many factors, including the quality of the materials used in its production and the operating conditions. Usually, the shelf life of PCB bare board is 1-3 years, and the usage lifespan is more than 10 years.
Generally, high TG printed circuit boards are more expensive than normal TG PCBs. For example, FR4 material with a TG of 135°C is standard, FR4 with TG150 is 10% more expensive, FR4 with TG170 is 20% more expensive, and FR4 with TG180 is around 30% more expensive.