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How to Choose HDI PCB Materials

Author Profile img: Atar Mittal

By Atar Mittal

September 24, 2020 | 0 Comments

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Contents

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Choosing the right dielectric material for a PCB is important no matter what application you’re working. However, the stakes are higher with high-density interconnect (HDI) technologies.

They’re small, light, and powerful, yet they have specific construction requirements. When using lead-free solder you must choose materials that have a higher decomposition temperature (Td).

 

So how do you choose? Here’s an overview of considerations when selecting an HDI PCB material. For a crash course in PCB material properties, check out our article how to choose materials and laminates.  You just have to plug in the property values you require and get a list of compatible materials in an easy-to-compare format.

 

PCB Material Design Guide - Cover Image

PCB Material Design Guide

9 Chapters - 30 Pages - 40 Minute Read
What's Inside:
  • Basic properties of the dielectric material to be considered
  • Signal loss in PCB substrates
  • Copper foil selection
  • Key considerations for choosing PCB materials

 

What is an HDI stack-up?

HDI stands for High-Density Interconnect. An HDI PCB is characterized by its high density of components and routing interconnections. An HDI design is by its very nature a high-performance design.

Stackup Planner by Sierra Circuits

It has fine lines and spaces (≤100µm), small vias (<150µm),  small capture pads (<400µm), and high connection pad density (>20 pads/cm2). The small size and lightweight of an HDI PCB makes it perfect for small consumer applications.

Composition of HDI PCB laminates
Composition of laminate and its functions. Image credit: HDI Handbook by Happy Holden

In an HDI stack-up, the resin matrix provides the dielectric properties and resistance that separates highly conductive layers, like copper foil.

Selecting dielectric material

Picking the right dielectric material or resin is important for HDI performance. They generally need to be higher quality compared to traditional multilayer PCBs materials. The following properties are critical:

HDI PCB material selector by Sierra Circuits

Glass transition temperature (Tg): The temperature at which the material transforms from a solid-state to a viscous state. This is a critical parameter for PCB material selection.

Decomposition temperature (Td): The temperature at which the material decomposes chemically.

Dielectric constant (Dk): It is the ratio of the electric permeability of the material to the electric permeability of free space (i.e., vacuum). The dielectric constant is also a measure of the amount of electric potential energy stored in a given volume of material under the action of an electric field.

Equation for dielectric constant or relative permeability
Equation for dielectric constant or relative permeability

Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE): CTE is the rate of expansion of a PCB material as it heats up. It is expressed in parts per million (ppm) expanded for every degree Celsius that it is heated.

Loss tangent (tanδ): The power loss of a signal as it passes through a transmission line on a dielectric material.

HDI materials cost vs. performance

The higher the performance, the costlier the material. Here is a chart of common dielectrics comparing the cost to performance, along with typical applications:

HDI pcb materials cost compared to their performance
HDI pcb materials performance vs. cost. Image credit: HDI Handbook by Happy Holden.

To learn more about PCB material selection, watch our webinar PCB Material Selection: Electrical and Manufacturing Considerations.

Types of HDI material suitable for your application

Signal energy loss considerations at high frequencies require PCB materials that have a low dielectric loss tangent or dissipation factor (Df) and a flatter Df versus frequency response curve. There are four categories of HDI-suitable materials:

Normal speed and loss

These are the most common PCB materials—the FR-4 family. Their dielectric constant (Dk) versus frequency response is not very flat and they have a higher dielectric loss. Therefore, their suitability is limited to a few GHz digital/analog applications. An example of this material is Isola 370HR.

Medium speed, medium loss

Medium-speed materials have a flatter Dk versus frequency response curve. The dielectric loss about half that for normal speed materials. These are suitable for up to ~10GHz. An example of this material is Nelco N7000-2 HT.

High speed, low loss

These materials also have flatter Dk versus frequency response curves and low dielectric loss. They also generate less unwanted electrical noise compared to other materials. An example of this material is Isola I-Speed.

Very high speed, very low loss (RF/microwave)

Materials for RF/microwave applications have the flattest Dk versus frequency response and the least dielectric loss. They are suitable for up to ~20GHz applications. An example of this material is Isola Tachyon 100G.

To learn about highly reliable materials that can be used in your high-speed applications, see OhmegaPly and TCR Materials with Embedded Passives Technology in PCB Manufacturing

To get better signal transmission performance in high-speed digital applications use materials with lower Dk, Df, and better SI features. For RF PCBs, use materials with the lowest possible Df materials. When signal attenuation is important, use a low-loss high-speed material. If crosstalk is an issue, reduce it by using a material with a lower Dk. When working with microelectronic substrates where the PCB size and layout features are small, BT materials are more suitable.

Keep in mind these materials are much harder to process and not suitable for every stack-up. For more information on HDI stack-ups, check out our tech talk 9 HDI Considerations for Manufacturability and Cost.

 

Proper material selection is important since materials will affect the electrical performance of the signal traces. Sierra circuits’ material selector helps you determine what of material will best suit your design needs. It provides a list of 12 materials, with their most important properties, that you can compare. We chose these specific materials out of a whole list of PCB materials because they are suitable for HDI PCB.  These materials cover the entire range of HDI applications.

Source: HDI Handbook by Happy Holden

Learn How HDI Boards Can Be More Economical

 

HDI PCB Design Guide - Cover Image

HDI PCB Design Guide

5 Chapters - 52 Pages - 60 Minute Read
What's Inside:
  • Planning your stack-up and microvia structure
  • Choosing the right materials
  • Signal integrity and controlled impedance in HDI
  • Manufacturing considerations for higher yields

 

About the author: Atar Mittal is the Director and General Manager of design and assembly division at Sierra Circuits. He is responsible for the design and development of strategies and process automation tools for complex printed circuit boards and assemblies. Atar is also currently engaged in the development of productivity tools for electronics designers that would have a tremendous impact on shortening the development time.

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