Compared to traditional FR-4 epoxy glass-based PCBs, metallic PCBs first and foremost offer greater heat dissipation, thanks to 5 to 10 times higher thermal conductivity and up to 10 times less thickness with respect to conventional architectures. The particularly efficient transfer of thermal energy allows metal PCBs to use very light copper layers, reducing both costs and thickness of the solution.

Metal PCBs are composed of a dielectric layer capable of offering high thermal conductivity (and therefore high dissipation), a metal layer and a copper film with high heat dissipation capacity and mechanical strength, used for circuit lithography. The most widely used materials for metal layer fabrication are aluminum and copper, but stainless steel can also be used in some applications.Copper offers superior performance and electrical properties than aluminum, but its cost is relatively higher.

Top 5 Advantages of MetalcorePCBs

In addition to excellent thermal dissipation, metal PCBs offer higher power density, high electromagnetic shielding, and better capacitive coupling.Thermal performance can be further improved by using thermal vias, as happens in traditional PCBs. The five main benefits of this technology will now be listed.

1 、 Thermal Dissipation

Metal core PCBs are one of the PCB options with higher thermal conductivity.   

By keeping the heat away from the power components as much as possible, they avoid possible damage to the circuit, being able to handle high density circuits with higher power levels.   

PCBmanufacturer talk Aluminum is one of the most used materials for this type of substrate:

in addition to its electrical properties, aluminum has the advantage of being recyclable and of low cost.   Metal core PCBs transfer heat 8 to 9 times faster than PCBs made with FR-4.   The dielectric layer must be very thin to create the shortest path from the heat source to the supporting metal plate.   Its thickness is normally between 0.003 and 0.006 inches.   As an example, consider that a test conducted on an MCPCB with integrated 1W LED showed how its temperature remained pretty close to the ambient temperature of 25°C, while the same power LED mounted on a FR-4 board reached a temperature 12°C higher than the ambient one.

2、Better Strength and Stability

The recent and rapid development of LED technology, especially with high power LED lighting, has raised concerns about heat dissipation.   Since they are usually mounted directly on the PCB, these LEDs can create stability and reliability problems for the circuit.   Without adopting the right technique, heat dissipation can hinder the performance of electronic devices that operate at high power.   The use of metal PCBs in these applications effectively solves this problem.   In addition to ensuring a high durability, aluminum is very light, and adds strength and resilience to the printed circuit board without causing an increase in weight.

3、Dimensional Stability

The size of a metallic printed circuit board remain more stable, as environmental conditions vary, than that of a PCB made with traditional materials, such as FR-4.   Subjected to a heating process from 30°C to about 150°C, PCBs with metal layers (such as aluminum) have undergone a very small variation in size, ranging from 2.5% to 3.0%.

4 、Lower Weight and Higher Recyclability

PCBs with metal substrates are lighter, last longer, and are more conductive than traditional PCBs made from epoxy materials. In addition, they are more environmentally friendly, as the metals used, including aluminum, are non-toxic and are easily recyclable. Aluminum is very easy to mine and refine, which makes it considerably less expensive than other metals.

Consequently, the manufacturing costs associated with PCBs using aluminum substrates can also be reduced. Aluminum PCBs are also a cost-effective alternative to more expensive and bulky heat sinks. Notoriously, aluminum is a non-toxic and totally recyclable metal. In the chain that connects the producer with the final consumer, the use of aluminum in metallic PBCs contributes to the safeguarding of our planet.

5 、 Longer Lifetime

Aluminum offers greater strength and durability than materials commonly used in PCB fabrication, such as ceramic and fiberglass. It is a very robust metal capable of reducing the risk of accidental breakage that may occur during the various stages of production, during assembly or during normal use of the final product. Figure 2 shows some examples of aluminum PCBs for applications in the field of LED lighting.

Sun&Lynn （深联电路）talked ，If your PCB&FPC project involves some non-standard requirements, then you may need an experienced professional manufacturer to deal with similar specifications.If you have any special requirements about PCB&FPC, you may wish to contact us directly.