Over the past few decades, the circuit board and electronics industry have seen tremendous innovation and technological advancement. Consequently, many types of circuit boards have emerged to fulfill the different electronics and industrial requirements. Among them, the glass circuit board is the newest and brightest addition that has taken the circuit board and PCB industry into new places.
But why is the glass circuit board so hyped? Also, what is a glass-made circuit board in reality? Last but not least, what is the use of glass circuit boards?
We will answer all of these questions in this article. If you consider getting glass circuit boards or wish to know about them, this article will undoubtedly meet all of your queries perfectly.
What Is Glass Circuit Board?
As the name suggests, a glass-based circuit board uses glass material as its primary substrate. Usually, manufacturers will use UV-ray curable mask to transfer the circuit board for the PCB right to the copper board. The UV light exposure will increase the hardening resistance of the curable etching. Next up, the manufacturer uses the hardness resistance on the copper board, and consequently, the image of the circuit board will be transferred on the transparent film. Although the manufacturing process of the glass circuit appears complicated, it is pretty straightforward.
The glass substrate is popular in the optical device industry for its longevity and hardness, even without complex manufacturing. You will see the application of glass substrates in lenses and mirrors. But, these are only basic uses of glass material.
The introduction of the glass circuit board has ushered in a new horizon for electronics and electrical devices. That's why glass PCB has become the new buzz in the printed circuit board industry. You will see its uses in LED, LCD, and solar panels.
But, these are the early days for glass substrate boards, and gradually, their application will increase in the PCB industry as optical devices are going through massive development.
What material is used to manufacture glass circuit boards?
Yes, glass is the primary material used to manufacture these circuit boards. Nonetheless, you will need glue and other materials to manufacture the glass circuit board. Usually, FX PCB and other circuit board manufacturers will use the following materials to construct their glass printed circuit board for long-lasting and dependable performance.
- Piece of glass
- UV photo resistance
- Copper-made foil paper
- Baking soda
- Chloride of iron
- Circuit board design printout
- Glue
Depending on the type of application of the glass circuit board, manufacturers will use different types of glass as the primary material. Usually, sapphire glass is the strongest material used for the most demanding circuit board applications.
Benefits Of Glass Circuit Boards
As we know, glass is among the strongest materials you will find. Plus, glass is transparent so, you can use it for a wide range of applications where you need the light to go through the printed circuit board substrate for the device to run and perform successfully.
So, what are the exact advantages of the glass substrate in the circuit board? The following discussion and points will help you understand it better.
- Thanks to its transparent design, the glass circuit board will provide 36-degree light emission. The transparency and 360-degree emission make the glass circuit boards incredibly versatile and high-performing.
- Glass is famous for its high resistance to temperature and heat. A standard piece of glass will withstand 1000°C with ease. Industrial reinforcement increases glass-based circuit boards' heat and temperature resistance even more. Thus, it can deliver better performance in demanding conditions.
- Glass is affordable and doesn't need high-end technology for production. Henceforth, it is easy to produce a bulk amount of glass required for the PCB industry. Also, it will reduce the cost of PCBs and semiconductors considerably.
- Glass and ceramic materials enjoy excellent deformation resistance. Thus, glass is highly resistant to dust, water, and heat. The least deformation means glass circuit boards are less likely to get scratched and damaged due to dust and water. It is vital since the circuit board is often prone to damage from water, dust, and heat. The deforming resistance of glass-made PCBs ensures that the semiconductors and PCBs used in the device offer the best performance and durability. So, it will be a great help for your business without any worry about your product quality and longevity.
- Last but not least, a glass printed circuit board will successfully meet the color rendering index up to 80. Thus, it will surely offer increased brightness. Additionally, you can quickly increase the luminosity of glass printed circuit boards to a staggering 140mlw. It is an incredible benefit as it is the highest luminosity in the circuit board industry.
Thanks to such improved advantages and benefits of the glass circuit board, it has become the new buzz in the industry. So, different device manufacturers are using glass circuit boards for their businesses.
Uses of a glass circuit board
The glass circuit board is a new edition in the industry. You will currently see glass circuit boards in devices and areas where light transmittance and heat dissipation are the keys. The most common uses of these circuit boards include the following ones.
- Solar power equipment and device
- Glass LED display
- Optical devices in military, medical, and daily life
Final Words
The glass circuit board has been a revolution in the circuit board sector. Since it is a new product, only a few manufacturers are skilled in manufacturing and supplying high-quality glass printed circuit boards. If you need a glass circuit board for prototype and bulk uses. FX PCB will be your perfect choice. FX PCB uses the most advanced and streamlined transparent glass circuit board technology to provide you with the best glass-made circuit boards. Plus, our 10+ years of experience in different PCB manufacturing enables us to cater to the specific needs of your business and design glass circuit boards according to your requirements without any quality and performance compromise.
