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Metal PCB Materials Differences: Aluminum Vs. Copper Core Vs. Iron Based

Introduction

Metal core printed circuit boards (MCPCB) refer to boards which incorporate a metal plate or substrate as
the central layer instead of the typical FR4 dielectric. Metals like aluminum, copper or iron alloys can be
used as the core material in MCPCBs.

The high thermal conductivity of the metal core enables heat dissipation from mounted electronic
components. This makes MCPCBs well suited for thermal management in applications with
high power devices.

This article provides a detailed comparison between the different metal core materials used in PCBs
covering properties, performance, applications, pros/cons and costs.

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Aluminum Core MCPCB

Aluminum is the most common metal base material used in metal core PCBs due to its combination of good
thermal performance, ease of fabrication and lower cost:

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Typical properties:

 Thermal conductivity: 130 W/mK

 Coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE): 23 ppm/°C
 Density: 2.7 g/cm3
 Specific heat capacity: 0.9 J/g°C
 Availability of alloys like 6061, 5052, 2024 etc.

Key attributes:

 Excellent heat dissipation performance

 Cost effective material and processing
 Lightweight
 Well-established PCB technology
 Can be easily machined or punched
 Recyclable

Typical thickness range:

 0.5mm to 6mm plates

 1mm to 2mm is common

Applications:

 LED lighting
 Power converters
 Motor drives
 Power supplies
 Solar inverters
 Automotive electronics

Aluminum MCPCBs offer the best balance of thermal performance, manufacturability and cost for most
mid-to-high power electronic circuits.

Copper Core MCPCB

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Copper provides significantly higher thermal conductivity than aluminum. This makes it useful for very
demanding thermal applications:

Properties:

 Thermal conductivity: 400 W/mK

 CTE: 17 ppm/°C
 Density: 8.9 g/cm3
 Specific heat capacity: 0.39 J/g°C

Benefits:

 Extremely high thermal conductivity

 Well-established PCB technology
 Widely available
 Can be fabricated using standard FR4 processes
 Solderable and recyclable

Typical thickness range:

 0.25mm to 4mm
 0.5mm to 2mm common

Applications:

 High power LED lighting

 RF power amplifiers
 Power modules

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 Solar microinverters
 High density computer systems

The excellent thermal performance of copper MCPCB justifies its higher cost in applications where thermal
dissipation is critical for reliability.

Iron Alloy Core MCPCB

Iron alloys containing nickel, cobalt, aluminum etc. offer a lower cost alternative to copper for improved
thermal conductivity over aluminum:

Properties vary by composition:

 Thermal conductivity: Up to 65 W/mK

 CTE: 10-15 ppm/°C
 Density: 7-8 g/cm3
 Specific heat capacity: 0.44-0.46 J/g°C

Benefits:

 Higher thermal conductivity than aluminum

 Lower cost than copper
 Compatible with FR4 fabrication
 High strength for thin cores

Typical thickness range:

 0.1mm to 3mm plates

 0.2mm to 0.5mm common

Applications:

 LED lighting
 Industrial electronics
 Telecom systems
 Automotive

Iron alloys like iron-nickel-cobalt provide a good compromise between performance and cost for an
intermediate thermal conductivity core material.

Comparing Metal Core PCB Materials

Key properties of the main metal core PCB base materials:

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Parameter Aluminum Copper Iron Alloy
Thermal conductivity 130 W/mK 400 W/mK Up to 65 W/mK
CTE 23 ppm/°C 17 ppm/°C 10-15 ppm/°C
Density 2.7 g/cm3 8.9 g/cm3 7-8 g/cm3
Specific heat 0.9 J/g°C 0.39 J/g°C 0.44-0.46 J/g°C
Cost Low High Medium
Common thickness 1-3mm 0.5-2mm 0.1-0.5mm
General material selection guidelines:

 Aluminum – Cost-driven applications where thermal conductivity >130 W/mK is sufficient

 Copper – Where maximum heat dissipation is critical
 Iron alloy – Applications constrained by weight or cost but need higher thermal performance than
aluminum

Metal Core MCPCB Fabrication

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Fabricating metal core PCBs requires specialized processes compared to standard FR4 PCB construction:

Base Metal Preparation

The metal is cut into specified panel sizes and thicknesses. Holes are punched for mounting components if
needed. The surfaces are chemically cleaned.

Dielectric Layer Lamination

Thin dielectric films like polyimide or FR4 prepregs are laminated onto the metal core under pressure and
temperature. Bonding agents help adhesion.

Circuit Formation

Similar to rigid PCB fabrication, the circuit layers are formed on the dielectric layers using processes like
photolithography, plating and etching.

Component Assembly

Components can be conventionally soldered. For higher heat tolerance, sintering of silver paste or transient
liquid phase bonding is used.

Enclosure Integration

The metal core MCPCB can sometimes directly serve as a housing or enclosure surface for mechanical
stiffness, shielding and heat spreading.<img
src=”https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1pNpZjav6MG438K0wGShZbZ8eqy3llH-S” alt=”metal
core PCB fabrication” style=”width:500px;height:300px;”>

The specialized materials, processes and integration considerations involved in metal core PCB
manufacturing demand working with an expert supplier.

Aluminum MCPCB Pros and Cons

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Benefits of aluminum metal core PCBs:

 Excellent thermal conductivity for heat dissipation

 Cost-effective material and fabrication
 Lightweight construction
 Mature, established manufacturing processes
 Readily machinable or punchable
 Solderable and recyclable

Limitations of aluminum MCPCBs:

 Lower thermal conductivity than copper or alloy cores

 Higher CTE than copper causes greater component warping stresses
 Susceptible to corrosion in harsh environments
 Lower stiffness than steel or copper cores when very thin
 Not suitable for high frequency or precision circuits

Aluminum strikes the best balance between cost, performance and manufacturability for most commercial
thermal management PCB applications.

Copper MCPCB Pros and Cons

Advantages of copper metal core PCBs:

 Extremely high thermal conductivity

 Well-established PCB manufacturing processes
 Widely available material supply
 Can often reuse fabrication lines for rigid FR4 PCBs
 High temperature soldering capability

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 Recyclable material

Drawbacks of using copper as metal core:

 Substantially higher cost than aluminum

 Heavy weight increases product weight
 Thermal expansion issues when paired with non-CTE matched components
 Lower brilliance compared to aluminum with LEDs
 Lower dielectric strength than aluminum at thinner gauges
 Requires nickel plating for solderability

The unmatched thermal performance of copper justifies its usage where removing heat is absolutely critical
for application success.

Iron Alloy MCPCB Pros and Cons

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Benefits of iron alloy metal core PCBs:

 Higher thermal conductivity than aluminum

 Lower density than copper provides weight savings
 Cost is between aluminum and copper
 High yield and tensile strengths when thin
 Manufacturing processes similar to FR4 PCBs

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Challenges with iron alloys for metal core PCBs:

 Thermal conductivity still lower than copper

 Material options not as diverse as aluminum or copper alloys
 More difficult to fully recycle
 Higher loss at high frequencies than aluminum or copper
 Lower stiffness than aluminum or copper at identical thickness

Iron alloys offer a viable intermediate option where cost or weight are key constraints but thermal
performance must exceed aluminum.

Cost Comparison

Metal core PCB cost considerations:

 Metal core PCBs have higher fabrication cost than FR4 PCBs due to specialized materials,
processes and lower panel utilization.
 However, the ability to remove heat from high power components results in overall system cost
savings.
 Aluminum core is the most economical metal base material. Iron alloy adds moderate cost
increment over aluminum. Copper core can double the cost over aluminum.
 But metal core PCB cost is typically a small fraction of overall system cost for an electronic
product. The thermal and reliability benefits justify the premium.
 Cost reduces in high production volumes due to improved material utilization and manufacturing
efficiency.

Applications of Metal Core PCBs

Some common application areas where metal core PCBs provide benefits include:

LED Lighting

The high power LEDs used require metal core PCBs for heat extraction. Aluminum is widely used but
copper or iron allows driving LEDs at higher currents for greater luminosity.

Power Converters

Switching converters and inverters for power electronics require metal core PCBs to manage substantial heat
dissipation from components like inductors and FETs.

Motor Drives

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Motor drives work under challenging operating temperatures. Metal core PCBs allow efficient thermal
management in the tightly packed drives.

Servers

Within data centers, high compute density server blades need effective cooling to maintain reliability.

RF Power Amplifiers

High frequency RF amplifiers using GaAs or GaN ICs benefit from the electrical and thermal conductivity
of copper metal core PCBs.

Aerospace & Defense

Rugged aluminum or copper core PCBs meet demanding thermal and mechanical performance requirements
in aerospace and military applications.

Conclusion

Metal core PCB technology enables integration of electronic components and systems with higher power
densities by effectively managing dissipated heat. Aluminum, copper and iron alloys provide a range of core
material options to suit different design constraints and applications. Aluminum MCPCBs offer the best

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value for most cost-driven commercial applications demanding higher thermal conductivity than standard
FR4 PCBs. Where maximum heat transfer is critical for product functioning, the highest performing copper
MCPCBs are the optimal choice despite increased cost. Iron alloys provide a middle ground alternative.
With each material having unique benefits and tradeoffs, designers must make informed selections to match
the metal PCB technology used to the specific thermal, weight, frequency, mechanical and cost requirements
of the application.

FAQs

What are some key considerations when selecting metal core PCB thickness?

Some guidelines for choosing thickness:

 Thicker cores allow mounting larger, higher power components

 Thinner cores weigh less but have reduced stiffness
 Thicker cores increase trace lengths if routing on outer layers
 Optimal thickness balances weight, cost and layout space

What fabrication challenges are common with metal core PCBs?

Some potential issues include:

 Delamination or cracking due to CTE mismatches

 Voids or lack of adhesion with dielectric bonding
 Drilling precision on thicker metal cores
 Higher scrap rates and lower panel utilization
 Warping when cooling after lamination

How are components assembled on MCPCBs?

Assembly options:

 Conventional SMT soldering for moderate temperature parts

 Sintered silver joints for high power devices
 Transient liquid phase soldering where high heat capacity is required
 Press fit pins, clips or thermal adhesives for selective mounting

What alternatives exist to using metal core PCBs for thermal management?

Some options are:

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 Thick copper planes within conventional PCBs
 Thermal cladding, gap pads or vias for heat extraction
 Heat sinks, heat pipes or cold plates attached to PCBs
 Liquid cooled plates with internal fluid circulation
 Insulated metal substrate PCBs

Are electrically insulating coatings required on metal cores?

Yes, the metal core must be coated with insulating dielectric films on both sides to avoid electrical shorts.
This adds material cost but allows routing signals like conventional PCBs.

Related Posts:

1. What is the Metal Core PCB Difference Between Aluminum PCB and Copper Base
PCB? (19.9)

2. Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing and Aluminum Based PCB (12.3)

3. What is Differences Between Fr4 Glassfiber and Aluminum substrate for PCB? (11.7)

4. Building the Multilayer Metal Core PCB (11.6)

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