What is Dimensional Stability
Dimensional stability refers to the ability of a material, such as a PCB, to maintain its dimensions and shape despite exposure to various external factors. These factors can include changes in temperature, humidity, chemical treatments, and levels of stress. It is a crucial characteristic that determines the reliability and performance of a PCB.
When a material exhibits high dimensional stability, it means that it undergoes minimal dimensional changes when subjected to these external factors. On the other hand, a material with low dimensional stability will experience significant changes in size or shape under the same conditions.
The concept of dimensional stability is particularly important in the design and manufacturing of PCBs. PCBs with high dimensional stability are desirable as they ensure consistent performance and reliability, even in challenging environments. For example, in the given context, it is mentioned that Frequency PCBs have low dimensional stability. This implies that these PCBs are more susceptible to dimensional changes when exposed to different temperatures. However, it is also noted that these PCBs maintain their dimensions regardless of the temperature to which they are exposed, indicating that they have a stable size even under high-temperature conditions.