What is Laminate
Laminate is a material used in the fabrication of printed circuit boards, providing structural integrity and stability to the PCB. A laminate is composed of thin layers of different materials that are bonded together using heat and pressure. The most commonly used laminate in the industry is FR-04, which is made of glass-reinforced epoxy. Other types of laminate include FR-02 (polyimide), FR-06 (Teflon), and CEM-01 (ceramic).
The selection of the appropriate laminate is essential as it significantly impacts the performance of the PCB. It influences the electrical properties, thermal conductivity, and mechanical strength of the board. The laminate is one of the layers in the traditional four-layer structure of a PCB, which includes the substrate, copper, solder mask, and silkscreen. It is developed by curing under pressure and high temperatures, resulting in a uniform thickness.
Different laminates have distinct properties and are suitable for specific applications. The choice of laminate depends on the PCB design requirements and the circuit board’s intended use. It is crucial to consider factors such as fire resistance, tensile strength, transition temperature, and thickness variation with temperature when selecting a laminate.