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What makes Copper Plating the Best?
By Embedded Advisor | Monday, April 20, 2020
Copper has undeniably been the most widely used component in PCB circuitry owing to its unique advantages.
FREMONT, CA: Today, electronic devices are everywhere. This also means that PCBs which form the core of these electronics products are also omnipresent. Technological advancements have introduced many changes to PCB design, fabrication, and applications. Innovations have also happened with respect to the materials used in various components of a PCB. However, copper has been one of the widely used elements in PCBs. Even as boards transform, the dependence on copper is expected to persist owing to the properties it confers to the circuit boards.
Copper is used both as a PCB substrate in the form of Copper Clad Laminate (CCL), as well as in the traces. Since the traces are responsible for carrying the electrical signals across the PCBs, they are considered a crucial component. The use of copper in the traces is considered effective because of the high degrees of conductivity that the metal possesses. Among the many desirable physical properties that copper has, conductivity is the most relevant from the perspective of PCBs. Copper traces can effortlessly and reliably transmit electric signals on boards.
The other property which makes copper indispensable is related to its malleability, which enables manufacturers to use a small amount of the element to have extensive coverage. For instance, a single ounce of copper can be made 35 micrometers thick and can cover a square foot of PCB substrates. Therefore, a very little amount of copper is needed in effect. Apart from that, copper is inexpensive when compared to other effective metals like gold or silver. His inexpensiveness of copper is also beneficial for manufacturers.
The technologies used for the fabrication of PCBs are today modern and optimized. Many of the time-taking processes that required manual interventions have now been automated and optimized. These advanced techniques are furthering the inherent advantages of copper as an element in PCBs.
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