Metal Core PCB vs. Standard PCB

1.Conductivity

Standard PCB has a low thermal conductivity that is around 0.3W. Whereas MCPCB has a higher thermal conductivity which ranges from 1-2W.

2.Plated Through Holes

In standard PCBs, we often have to use plated through holes. However, we don’t necessarily need them in MCPCB.

3.Thermal Relief or Heat Dissipation

We have to use vias for heat dissipation in standard PCB. This means that there are longer drill cycles and additional processes. However, MCPCB doesn’t require via drilling, plating or deposition processes. This is because the metal core allows for efficient thermal relief and heat dissipation.

4.Solder Mask

The solder mask is usually of dark colors in standard PCB. So, the colors are usually black, green, blue, and red. Hence, we apply the solder mask on the top and bottom. On the other hand, in MCPCB, we apply the solder mask to the top only and it is generally white in color.

5.Thickness

Standard PCBs have a wide range of thicknesses available due to their use of layer mounts and various material combinations. However, the thickness variation in MCPCB is usually limited because of the available dielectric sheet thicknesses and backing plate thicknesses.

6.Machining Process

Standard PCBs use conventional machining processes such as routing, countersink, drilling, and v-scoring. However, we need a diamond-coated saw blade for the v-scoring of MCPCB. This is because cutting of metals requires sharp tools.