PCB materials are very important today because they play a huge role in the overall reliability of the product. There are several PCB materials out there. However, we will be focusing on one from Arlon.
Arlon is known for the development and manufacturing of prepreg materials for bonding, and copper clad materials and laminates. This is majorly to fabricate frequency dependent and high performance printed circuit boards.
For this article, we will be focusing on the Arlon 49N PCB. We will be talking about the features, general properties, applications and benefits of using the Arlon 49N PCB Material. Please continue reading as we widen your knowledge in this regard.
What is the Arlon 49N PCB Material?
The Arlon 49N PCB Material is an epoxy low-flow prepreg, which is engineered for the bonding of multilayer rigid-flex epoxy, as well as attachment of heat sinks to epoxy multilayer printed circuit boards.
This material has a high temperature for glass transition of 170 degrees Celsius and it is useful in high temperature or high performance applications in contrast to the standard epoxy low-flow, which is difunctional.
Also, the Arlon 49N PCB Material is great for any rigid flex application of high layer count where the expansion of the z-axis has become an issue. Furthermore, it meets the requirements of the IPC-4101/26.
What are the Properties of the Arlon 49N PCB Material?
You can divide the properties of this material into four.
Physical Properties
The Arlon 49N PCB Material has the following physical properties
- It has a density of about 1.65 g/cm3
- Flammability rating of V0
- Thermal conductivity of 0.25 W/mk
- Water absorption of 0.1%
Electrical Properties
The Arlon 49N PCB Material has the following electrical properties.
- Its dielectric constant is 4.3 at 1 MHz
- Also, at 1 MHz, it has a dissipation factor of 0.022
- It has a volume resistivity of 5.1 × 107 MΩ-cm for C96/35/90, while at E24/125, it has a volume resistivity of 7.4 × 107 MΩ-cm
- Its surface resistivity at E24/125 and C96/35/90 is 1.5 × 106 MΩ and 8.8 × 106 MΩ respectively
- Also, this pcb material has an electrical strength of 39.4 kV/mm
Mechanical Properties
The Arlon 49N PCB Material has the following mechanical properties.
- Poisson’s Ratio of 0.17
- Its young’s modulus for CD/MD is 2.6 Mpsi
- Tensile strength is 45 Mpa
- The Poisson’s Ratio along the X, y axis is 0.17
Thermal Properties
The Arlon 49N PCB Material has the following thermal properties.
- It has a temperature for glass transition of 170 degrees Celsius at DSC.
- Also, its decomposition temperature is 296 degrees Celsius at the initial
- For the X, Y axis it has a CTE of 16 ppm/C.
- At a temperature of 325 degrees Celsius, the Arlon 49N PCB Material loses 5% of the initial weight
- At T260, it takes about 18 minutes
What are the Processing Conditions of the Arlon 49N PCB Material?
First, ensure that the inner layers are processed through strip, etch, and develop making use of the standard practices of the industry.
The inner layers should be baked for about sixty minutes. This baking should be done in a rack at a temperature between 107 degrees Celsius and 121 degrees Celsius or within 225 degrees Fahrenheit and 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Furthermore, the prepreg should be vacuum desiccated for about 8 to 12 hours before you laminate.
Lamination Cycle of the Arlon 49N PCB Material
The lamination cycle for the Arlon 49N PCB Material is as follows.
- Pre-vacuuming should last for thirty to forty-five minutes
- Then, control the rise in heat to 4.5 degrees Celsius to 6.5 degrees Celsius every minute between 100 degrees Celsius and 150 degrees Celsius. It is preferable to use vacuum lamination
- Also, set the cure temperature to stand at 218 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, the cure time for this temperature is 2 hours. In addition, cool down at a pressure of 5 degrees Celsius per minute maximum.
- Furthermore, drill between 350 and 400 SFM. You should use undercut bits for vias 0.0 and smaller.
- Utilizing plasma or alkaline permanganate, desmear with settings, which are great for polyimide. To get a positive etchback, plasma is preferable.
- Make use of standard parameters for profiling
- Bake for one to two hours at a temperature of 121 degrees Celsius before you start soldering.
What are the Main Features of the Arlon 49N PCB Material?
The benefits of this material is as follows
- The Arlon 49N PCB Material is RoHS/WEEE compliant
- Also, its mechanical and electrical properties meet the IPC 4101/26 requirements, which is modified to become “low-flow”
- The material’s temperature for glass transition has an expansion characteristics that is similar to that of polyimide, which increases the reliability of the PTH greatly
- Comes in different fiberglass styles and flow ranges for the best process flexibility
- It has an epoxy resin system with many functions having a temperature for glass transition of 170 degrees Celsius. This delivers great PTH reliability and high temperature
What are the Applications of the Arlon 49N PCB Material?
The following are the typical applications of the Arlon 49N PCB Material
- Attachment of heat sinks to the polyimide MLBs
- Bonding the epoxy rigid-flex (adhesiveless)
- Bonding epoxy rigid-flex (multilayer)
Benefits of the Arlon 49N PCB Material
Below are the benefits of the Arlon 49N PCB Material
Industry approval
Arlon 49N PCB material adheres strictly to industry standards. The mechanical and electrical properties of this material meet the requirements of IPC-4101/26. In addition, it meets the requirements of V-0 flammability and it is RoHS/WEEE compliant.
Environmentally friendly
When environmental safety is a crucial factor, Arlon 49N is the right material to use. This material doesn’t contain any MDA. The non-MDA chemistry helps to resist drill cracking. Also, there are no carcinogenic materials in it. It is bromine and lead-free. Therefore, it is safe for humans and their environments.
Conclusion
We hope we have been able to explain in detail what the Arlon 49N PCB Material offers. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask here.
