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Important Facts You Need to Know About Isola FR406

Several PCB materials are available for PCB fabrication. However, not all materials
guarantee functionality and reliability. Therefore, it is important to know more about
PCB materials. In this article, we will be looking at one of the best-quality PCB
materials for your PCB fabrication. The Isola FR406 is our focus in this article.

Table of Contents

What Does the Isola FR406 PCB Material Mean?

The Isola FR406 PCB material is an epoxy resin material designed by Isola. The
composition of this material enables it to be suitable for multilayer PCBs fabrication.

Also, this laminate features a stable dielectric constant and high glass transition
temperature. This laminate isn’t only ideal for multilayer boards; it also works for
single sided PCBs.

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What Properties Does Isola FR406 Offer?

Isola FR406 PCB material offers exceptional properties. These properties contribute
to its high performance.

High glass transition temperature

The Tg of Isola FR406 is 170 degrees Celsius. Therefore, this PCB laminate features
a high glass transition temperature. Also, it is ideal for high performance applications.
High Tg material plays a crucial role in PCB fabrication. This property contributes to
the thermal performance of a circuit board.

Low Z-axis CTE

The Z-axis CTE of this material is 60ppm/ºC before glass transition temperature. The
CTE after glass transition temperature is 250ppm/ºC. Therefore, Isola FR406 offers
low coefficient of thermal expansion.

Low and stable dielectric constant

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The dielectric constant of Isola FR406 is 3.93. This means that Isola FR406 PCB
material features a low dielectric constant. Also, this electrical property indicates that
this material is suitable for high frequency applications. In addition, Isola FR406 can
reduce electric power loss when used in any applications.

High Decomposition temperature

The decomposition temperature of this material is 300 degrees Celsius. Therefore,

Isola FR406 PCB material will chemically decompose when it operates above 300
degrees Celsius. The decomposition temperature of this material is high.

Square weave E-glass reinforcement

Isola FR406 PCB materials features square weave E-glass reinforcement. Therefore,
this improves the mechanical properties of this material. Isola FR406 features a
material made of electronic glass fiber cloth.

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What is the Significance of Relative Thermal Index (RTI)

in Isola FR406?

RTI plays a crucial role in determining the performance of a PCB material. This index
describes the highest service temperature at which Isola FR406 remains within limits
over a long time. Also, it defines the ability of a PCB material to retain thermal
degradation. Therefore, this index specifies the maximum temperature you can expose
Isola FR406 to avoid negative effect on its performance.

Isola FR406 is a high-frequency PCB material will generate high temperature

conditions. Any failure in high temperature applications can have a negative impact.
Therefore, it is important to utilize the appropriate material. Also, ensure the CTE of
this laminate conforms to other materials.

Therefore, this protects Isola FR406 laminate form any damage. The relative thermal
index is an important property to consider. In addition, the MOT (Maximum
Operating Temperature) is a UL rating that backs RTI. It indicates the maximum
temperature a PCB construction can withstand without changes in its properties.
However, the RTI of Isola FR406 must exceed MOT.

Resin Systems in Isola FR406

There are several resin systems used in Isola FR406. However, the commonest resin
systems are epoxy-based. The different types of epoxy resin systems are:

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Tetra-functional modified systems

This epoxy resin system offers a high Tg value due to its enhanced cross-linking. Also,
this system provides enhanced resistance to solvents and chemicals used in Isola
FR406 manufacturing.

Thermally conductive epoxy resin systems

These resin systems features reasonable Tc values. The normal Tc for these systems
varies from 1 to 3 W/m/K. Also, these systems use thermally conductive fillers. In
addition, they incorporate a resin technology that is free of lead. Also, these systems
encourage heat transfer through the laminate.

Di-functional epoxy resin

This begins with brominated bisphenol-A and adds fillers and accelerators. There are
different di-functional epoxies. These are low-end di-functional systems and modified
di-functional systems. The low-end system has a Tg between 110 to 130 degrees
Celsius. The modified systems feature multi-functional and tetra-functional epoxy
resins. Therefore, the Tg ranges from 135 to 160 degrees Celsius.

Low-flow epoxy systems

These systems have a restricted flow. Therefore, this makes them ideal for
rigid-flex Isola PCB fabrication. Also, they are ideal for heat sink bonding. However,
they have various Tg values.

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The Effects of Heatup Rate and Pressure in Isola

FR406 Lamination

The heat-up rate plays a crucial role in Isola FR406 resin systems. Therefore, it is
important to regulate the rate of heat-up during multilayer Isola PCB fabrication. It is
crucial in controlling the temperature rise rate via the flow period. This period starts
from when resin system begins to melt and when it reaches a high viscosity.

The resin system may not flow well when the rate of heat-up is slow. Meanwhile, if
the rate is fast, there might be uneven flow. Slow heat rise can result in high melt
viscosity. Therefore, the resin may not be able to flow around the copper structure.
Fast rate of heat-up results in higher FR406 resin flow.

Pressure can impact Isola FR406 lamination. When there is low pressure, this PCB
material may feature poor interlaminar bonding. Also, it might have low-pressure

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areas that feature inadequate resin flow. The solution to this is to increase the pressure
slightly. You can also adjust the heating rate to open the lamination window.

Also, the inner layers might experience distortion when the lamination pressure is
very high. Also, high pressure can lead to glass knuckles crushing against inner layer’
traces. The heat-up rate is important since general flow depends on the resin melt
viscosity. Also, it depends on the lamination pressure. The heat rate determines the
melt viscosity to an extent. Therefore, it is ideal to keep a baseline heat-up rate of
10 °F for each minute.

Conclusion

The Isola FR406 PCB material is specifically designed with more advance features. It
is offers great performance for FR-4 processing. Also, this laminate can function well
in a wide range of applications. Therefore, it continues to gain popularity in the PCB
industry.

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