What is the paper substrate in PCB? In what fields will it be used?

The paper substrate in PCB is a special type of substrate material used to manufacture circuit boards in electronic devices. It is made of pulp or waste paper and has certain conductivity and mechanical strength. However, the disadvantage of most paper substrate materials is that they are not fireproof. Among paper substrates, only 94V0 is a flame retardant paperboard, which can be fireproof, so you need to pay attention when choosing the board. Most paper substrates are used to make single-sided boards. Paper substrates are more common in our lives. For example, they are often seen in household appliances or switching power supplies. This article will introduce in detail the definition, characteristics, advantages, common materials of paper substrates in PCBs, and their wide applications in electronics, communications, and industry. 

1. Definition, characteristics, advantages and common materials of paper substrate in PCB:

(1) Definition

The paper substrate in PCB is a substrate material made of pulp or waste paper after special treatment, which is used to manufacture circuit boards in electronic devices. Paper substrates are generally called phenolic paper substrates, paperboards, plastic boards, V0 boards, flame retardant boards, red-letter copper-clad boards, 94V0, TV boards, color TV boards, etc. It is generally an insulating laminated material with phenolic resin as a binder and wood pulp fiber paper as a reinforcing material.

(2) Characteristics

1. Conductive performance: The paper substrate in the PCB has a certain degree of conductivity by adding conductive agents or conductive fibers, and can conduct current and signals.

2. Mechanical strength: The paper substrate has high mechanical strength and durability through a special manufacturing process, and can withstand various stresses and vibrations in electronic equipment.

Environmentally friendly and sustainable: Since the paper substrate is mainly made of pulp or waste paper, it is more environmentally friendly and sustainable than traditional substrate materials, and meets the requirements of modern society for environmental protection.

(3) Advantages

Low cost

Cheap price

Low relative density

Punching process possible

Common materials include: XPC, FR-1, FR-2, FE-3, 94V0, etc.

2. Application of paper substrate in PCB in the field of electronics:

Paper substrates in PCB have a wide range of applications in the electronics field, mainly in the following aspects:

1. Electronic products: Paper substrates can be used to manufacture various types of electronic products, such as mobile phones, tablets, TVs, etc. As the basic material of circuit boards, it can provide circuit connection and support functions.

2. LED lighting: Paper substrates play an important role in the field of LED lighting. The circuit boards in LED lamps are usually made of paper substrates, which have good heat dissipation and conductivity, and can meet the needs of high-brightness LED lamps.

3. Smart home: With the rapid development of smart homes, paper substrates have also been widely used in this field. It can be used to manufacture smart sockets, smart switches and other equipment to achieve networking and intelligent control between home appliances.

3. Application of paper substrate in PCB in the field of communication:

Paper substrate also has important applications in the field of communication, including:

Communication equipment: Antennas, power amplifiers and other modules in wireless communication equipment often use paper substrate as substrate material. Paper substrate has good conductivity and mechanical strength, which can meet the requirements of communication equipment for high-frequency signal transmission and mechanical stability.

Fiber optic communication: Paper substrate also plays an important role in the field of fiber optic communication. It can be used to manufacture circuit boards for fiber optic transceiver modules, providing circuit connection and stable support.

4. Application of paper substrate in PCB in industrial field:

In addition to the fields of electronics and communications, paper substrates are also widely used in the industrial field, including:

Instruments: Paper substrates can be used to manufacture various types of instruments, such as test instruments, control panels, etc. It has good mechanical strength and durability, and can meet the needs of complex industrial environments.

Automotive electronics: In the field of automotive electronics, paper substrates are often used to manufacture automotive circuit boards. It has high conductivity and thermal stability, which can meet the requirements of automotive electronic equipment for signal transmission and temperature changes.

5. Summary:

The paper substrate in PCB is a substrate material made of pulp or waste paper, which has conductive properties and mechanical strength. It has a wide range of applications in electronics, communications and industry. In the electronics field, paper substrates are used to manufacture electronic products, LED lighting and smart home equipment; in the communications field, paper substrates are used for communication equipment and optical fiber communications; in the industrial field, paper substrates are used in instrumentation and automotive electronics. With the continuous advancement of science and technology, paper substrates will continue to play their unique advantages and contribute to the development of various fields.