The above is a Glass PCB manufactured by PCBONLINE. Glass substrate printed circuit boards are new PCB products serving thermal dissipation and light transmittance purposes.
Glass PCBs provide a new option for PCB designing in regards to thermal dissipation and optoelectronic integration. Explore glass PCBs from below now.
Part 1: Glass PCBs - A Shift from Ceramic Substrate to Glass Substrate
Once, we accepted a PCB manufacturing order, and the circuit boards were not designed to be glass substrates but ceramic substrates.
In the PCB prototyping project, the customer orders 3 sizes of the same circuit and 3 pieces for each. The largest size of the PCBs is 170mm × 170mm.
At the ceramic PCB factory of PCBONLINE, the ceramic circuit boards in the two smaller sizes are manufactured successfully without flaws. However, when we manufacture the 170mm × 170mm ceramic PCBs, the PCB surface breaks.
The reason for the 170mm × 170mm ceramic PCBs breaking is that, during the PCB lamination process, the prepreg in the circuit board is squeezed and overflowed, and then the PCB surface breaks.
Our experienced engineers quickly find a solution to large-size ceramic PCB breaking: change the PCB substrate from ceramic to glass!
The PCB substrate change doesn't change the boards' features or affect the PCB performances at all. We explained the PCB substrate change to the customer, and when he approves it, we start the fabrication at once. All three pieces of glass circuit boards are manufactured successfully.
Part 2: Glass PCB Material Specifications and Features
The substrate material of glass printed circuit boards is ultra-clear float glass.
You may wonder about the specifications and features of the glass PCB substrate materials specifications. The glass substrate PCBs have excellent performances. The glass PCB core materials' specifications are below.
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Ultra-clear float glasses (Low iron on-Line low-eradiation)
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Light transmittance (%
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External reflectivity (%)
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Internal reflectivity (%)
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Thermal transmittance
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Thermal reflectance (%)
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Thermal absorption (%)
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Solar factor
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Shading coefficient
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U-value (W/㎡K)
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1 to 3mm ultra-clear2#
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85.63
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11
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11
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76.86
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13
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15
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0.75
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0.86
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3.90
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4mm ultra-clear 2#
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84.85
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11
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12
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75.67
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13
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17
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0.74
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0.86
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3.80
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5mm ultra-clear 2#
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84.95
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11
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12
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75.58
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13
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20
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0.72
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0.83
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3.80
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6mm ultra-clear 2#
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83.68
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11
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12
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74.57
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13
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22
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0.71
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0.82
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3.80
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8mm ultra-clear 2#
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83.23
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12
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13
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74.00
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11
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24
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0.69
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0.81
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3.80
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10mm ultra-clear 2#
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82.82
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12
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13
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72.64
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11
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29
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0.65
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0.75
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3.80
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12mm ultra-clear 2#
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82.65
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12
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13
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70.53
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11
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32
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0.55
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0.65
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3.80
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15mm ultra-clear 2#
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82.00
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12
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13
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69.14
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12
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33
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0.73
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0.84
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3.60
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6mm+12A+6mm ultra-clear 3#
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75.00
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15
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16
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59.00
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13
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28
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0.64
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0.73
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2.00
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6mm ultra- clear+12A+6mm ultra-clear 3#
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77.00
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14
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16
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60.00
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14
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26
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0.67
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0.76
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2.00
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Features of glass PCB's core material - float glass are below.
- Excellent thermal dissipation
- Waterproof, moisture-proof, dust-proof
- Best corrosion resistance in harsh environments
- Good flatness, low expansion coefficient
- High reflectivity, good looking
- Feasibility to laminate with other materials such as metals, high-frequency, high-speed, FPC
Part 3: Applications of Glass Substrate Circuit Boards
Currently, glass PCBs are mainly used in fields that require high thermal dissipation and light transmittance.
Solar power equipment and systems
Solar power equipment, such as photovoltaic inverters, and solar power batteries, requires the PCB boards to dissipate heat efficiently. Otherwise, the accumulated heat affects the chips and lowers the photoelectric conversion efficiency, and the lifespan of electronic components will also be shortened.
Glass substrate circuit boards can quickly transfer heat from the chips. And they have a small thermal expansion coefficient. Besides, the manufacturing costs will also be lowered because glass replaces expensive semiconductors.
Glass LED display screen
LED display screens need to have excellent light transmittance. Glass PCBs carry the circuits and are transparent. The application of glass PCBs makes the LED display screens thinner and reduces the space.
New-energy electrical and electronic devices and systems
The thermal management system of new-energy electrical equipment and devices mainly includes batteries, power components, motors, air conditioners, etc. The increase in power leads to higher thermal dissipation requirements for circuit boards, and glass PCBs can handle the thermal dissipation needs.
Optical instruments and devices
The application of glass printed circuit boards in optical instruments and devices realizes optoelectronic integration. Glass PCBs make the optical instruments and devices smaller and smarter.
Part 4: Glass Circuit Board Manufacturing One-Stop-Shop Solution
PCBONLINE is a one-stop advanced PCB manufacturer founded in 1999. We provide PCB manufacturing, PCB assembly, electronic components sourcing, and value-added services such as conformal coating, and end-product assembly.
Besides ceramic PCBs and glass substrate PCBs, from PCBONLINE, you can order any other type of printed circuit boards, such as rigid-flex PCBs, flexible PCBs, HDI PCBs, high-frequency PCBs, aluminum PCBs, heavy-copper PCBs.
Glass PCB Manufacturing Capabilities from PCBONLINE
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PCBONLINE's Glass PCB Capabilities
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Glass PCB size
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Within 600mm × 1400mm
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Glass PCB thickness
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0.6mm to 4mm
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Conductive layer thickness
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4μm to 25μm
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Adhesion
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Level 4B
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Trace width/space
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0.15mm to 3.2mm
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Minimum line width/space
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for large-size PCB: 0.2mm and above for thin-copper or small-size PCB: minimum 0.03mm |
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Surface finish
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Lead-free HASL, ENIG, OSP, immersion tin, immersion silver, peelable solder mask, carbon ink
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Ordering glass circuit boards and any other PCBs from PCBONLINE, you will enjoy these benefits:
- Free one-on-one engineering support and DFM, DFT, and DFX for your project.
- High-quality PCB manufacturing and assembly are compliant with ISO, IATF, RoHS, REACH, UL, and IPC standards.
- All PCB/PCBA manufacturing and electronic component sourcing processes are traceable.
- One-stop PCB services and complete tests. No need to test the products on yourself.
- Competitive PCB manufacturing, PCB assembly, and electronic components prices.
- Short lead time and fast logistics services.
Please feel free to contact PCBONLINE by email at info@pcbonline.com or online through the chat window.
Will Glass Substrate PCB be a Trend Product?
Glass PCBs could be one trend of PCB boards. Decades ago, rigid-flex PCBs were not used frequently. As electronics products get smaller and smarter, the applications of rigid-flex PCB continue to soar as it provides dynamic stability and reduces space dramatically. In the future, when electronic products require higher power and better thermal dissipation, glass circuit boards will also become popular.
Conclusion
Glass substrate PCBs are newly developed circuit boards and are not used in many fields yet. Glass PCBs have good thermal dissipation and high light transmittance. Now the applications of glass PCBs include solar power devices, glass LED display screens, optical electronics, and new-energy electronics. If you want to know more about glass PCBs or have glass PCB needs, do not hesitate to contact the glass PCB manufacturer PCBONLINE.
