What is High-Tg PCB: An Overview of High-Tg PCB

As electronic technology witnessed significant development in the last few years, the demand and need for high Tg PCBs (Tg  = Glass Transition Temperature) have increased. Tg is considered the most important feature of any epoxy product. Tg is the temperature where any solid or rigid product is changed into a rubbery state that greatly alters its physical and chemical properties.

In the case of a PCB, a high Tg PCB offers greater resistance to temperature, pressure, moisture, or any harmful chemical. Also, they provide enhanced electrical and mechanical support to electronic devices. In other words, it can easily stand harsh industrial conditions.

That is why its usage has increased significantly in electronic applications where high energy is released like antennas, AC power supplies, Embedded computer systems, and many more applications where high levels of heat are generated. 

After reading this article you will understand everything about a high Tg PCB from its properties, and advantages to its applications in the field of electronics.  

What is a high Tg PCB?

Transition glass temperature is the highest temperature at which a substance remains in a solid state. Further heating transforms it into a liquid form. In the case of PCBs, Tg is the temperature at which the substrate, polymer or glass, is at the transition temperature between solid and rubbery state. So, a high Tg PCB is designed to withstand extreme temperatures so that it should not melt, soften, or burn during excessive heat generation. Every PCB has a distinct Tg which is dependent on its base material.

If anyhow, the operating temperature of a PCB exceeds Tg, it will adversely affect the working properties of that PCB. That is why PCBs have low softened, melt, and show deformation, and their electrical, and mechanical properties are also adversely affected. The modern sophisticated electronic devices 

In the field of electronics, the grade of an epoxy glass material is represented by FR4. Normally, FR4 of simple PCBs is around 130 degrees centigrade, of moderate is around 150 degrees centigrade, while FR4 of a high PCB is more than 170 degrees centigrade and can effectively withstand high heat generated during complex operations. So, if your device is operating over 130 degrees centigrade, you will need a high Tg PCB to remain within the safe limit.

Properties of a High Tg PCB

Since the foremost requirement of a PCB is that it should be resistant to the high temperature generated during its operation, a high Tg PCB successfully fulfills this need. Some basic properties of a high Tg PCB are:

1. High resistance to Temperature

2. High resistance to pressure

3. Improved mechanical and electrical properties

4. Low coefficient of thermal expansion

5. Higher value of thermal stress resistance, and many more

So, a high Tg PCB is more efficacious than an ordinary PCB but it is also comparatively costly. However, considering its increased durability and diversified functions, it proves to be a cost-effective solution for resisting heat in high-energy electronic applications.  

Advantages of high Tg PCB

Some of the advantages of a high Tg PCB over a normal PCB are explained below:

1. Increased stability

A high Tg PCB offers high stability and durability as it is designed to resist high temperatures, moisture, harmful chemicals, and moisture. So, the life of the electronic devices also increases by using high Tg PCBs.

2. Withstands High Power Density Designs

A high Tg PCB is an ideal choice for high-power design electronic devices as it can easily withstand extremely high temperatures. That is why its demand for heavy industries has been increasing rapidly for the last few years.  

3. Perfect Choice for multilayer PCBs

Since multilayer PCBs are generally used for complex and sophisticated electronic appliances that are operated under stressful pressure and temperature conditions, a high Tg PCB is perfect for such applications. It increased the reliability, durability, and functional workability of boards.

Applications of High Tg PCB

High Tg PCBs have captivated the attention of users since they are a perfect solution to high power density designs. Whenever you have to deal with electronic applications where excessive heat generation might hinder the working of circuits, a high Tg PCB is the only effective and reliable option you have. In other words, it costs far more to decrease the heat generation of any electronic device or PCB as it directly affects the size, cost, and working of that device, so we use a high Tg PCB to overcome this problem at a comparatively low price. Hence, it is not only an effective solution to deal with high temperatures and high-density electronic applications but is also more reliable and cost-effective. So, it fulfills the needs and requirements of the domestic, and industrial customers in dealing with high energy applications.  

As mentioned earlier, the major advantage of a high Tg PCB is that it is not affected by the heat generated by the electronic device. Because of these properties, it is extensively used in many applications, some of which are:

1. Industrial Applications

The majority of industrial applications require high-temperature, harsh chemical, and electrical conditions. That is why these PCBs are widely used in industrial applications like drilling machines, high-power pressers, power inverters, solar power equipment, and other such devices. 

2. Automobile Industry

The majority of automobile appliances employ high Tg PCBs. The production of automatic and self-driving cars has stimulated the need for these PCBs. In the automobile industry, high Tg PCBs are used in radar technology, control systems, navigation devices, and 

Similarly, these PCBs are also used in computer technology, telecommunication appliances, security systems like fire alarms, Wi-Fi boosters, high-processing antennas, gateways, embedded computer systems, and other medical, and aeronautical appliances where high heat and energy are released.

In short, instead of minimizing the heat generation that can severely affect the working of PCBs, the developers have focused on resisting the high heat generation by producing high Tg PCBs.

High Tg PCB One Stop Shop Solution Provider - PCBONLINE

PCBONLINE is a leading one-stop shop solution provider for high Tg PCBs founded in 1999. From prototyping to bulky production, you can order high Tg PCBs without the quantity limit of world-leading quality.

Please feel free to send your Gerber and BOM to email at info@pcbonline.com or get a quote online for free.

Concluding Remarks

To sum it all up, high Tg PCBs have become an inherent part of many high-density electronic appliances that have to resist high temperatures and excessive heat generation during their operations. The need for boards that can resist extremely high temperatures was always a challenge for the manufacturers. However, the introduction of high Tg PCBs has solved this issue. These PCBs can withstand temperatures greater than 170 degrees centigrade which makes them an ideal choice for many commercial, and industrial applications and more and more industries are transforming towards using high Tg PCBs.  

This simple guideline has elaborated everything about high Tg PCBs from their distinct properties, applications, and advantages over normal PCBs. So, whenever you have any difficulty understanding high Tg PCBs, simply read this piece of writing.