Getting the Heat Out
January 12, 2018 | Patty Goldman, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 1 minute
Increasing consumer demands for high performance and the need for high reliability in sectors such as automotive, LED lighting, and renewable energy mean that thermal management is now front and center on the priority list for PCB manufacturing. This month, industry experts are in the hot seat to explain how to keep everything cool.
Who would have guessed a few years back that the green movement would so heavily involve the PCB industry—and it’s at all not how one would have imagined then. The advent of LEDs in lighting for homes, automobiles, street lamps and much more has created a huge demand for heat-dissipating circuit boards. And the latest high-power chips (power = heat) are requiring innovative ways and materials to keep things cool. Without a doubt the automotive industry is the new big player in power electronics and we are all taking notice.
I am constantly asked or asking the question of articles and columns: Is this design-related or fabricator-related? And truth be told, it’s a mixed bag. But I find it increasingly difficult to separate the two as I feel strongly that each needs to know a whole lot more about what the other does. We often hear about lack of communication between designers, fabricators, assemblers and the final OEM customer—and truly this issue always comes up when talking with people in our industry.
So if you think “this article isn’t for me,” think again and give it a read. Whether you benefit from the detail is only part of the takeaway; it’s always valuable to understand how your customer/supplier thinks.
We start off with Ventec’s Mark Goodwin explaining the surge (pun intended) in power electronics. He presents an excellent, detailed guide to the material choices for thermal management, including new dielectric materials.
This article originally appeared in the December 2017 issue of The PCB Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
IDTechEx Examines the Opportunities for Wearables in Digital Health
04/19/2024 | IDTechExIDTechEx’s report, “Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence 2024-2034: Trends, Opportunities, and Outlook”, covers this ongoing trend in the consumer health wearables market and includes analysis of the opportunities and roadmap for biometric monitoring.
ZESTRON Welcomes Whitlock Associates as New Addition to their Existing Rep Team in Florida
04/19/2024 | ZESTRONZESTRON, the leading global provider of high-precision cleaning products, services, and training solutions in the electronics manufacturing and semiconductor industries, is thrilled to announce the addition of Whitlock Associates to its esteemed network of sales representatives.
IPC Bestows Posthumous Hall of Fame Award to Industry Icon Michael Ford
04/18/2024 | IPCIPC honored the late Michael Ford, Aegis Software, for his extraordinary contributions to the global electronics manufacturing industry with the IPC Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame Award at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. IPC’s most prestigious honor, the Hall of Fame Award is given to individuals who have provided exceptional service and advancement to IPC and the electronics industry. Ford, an industry leader and valued IPC volunteer, died suddenly in January 2024.
SEMI Applauds U.S. Chips Act Award for Samsung Electronics Facilities to Strengthen Domestic Semiconductor Supply Chain
04/17/2024 | SEMISEMI, the industry association serving the global electronics design and manufacturing supply chain, applauded the United States Department of Commerce’s announcement of a Preliminary Memorandum of Terms for an award under the CHIPS and Science Act to support the expansion of Samsung Electronics’ presence in Texas and the company’s development and production of leading-edge chips.
Northrop Grumman honors Calumet Electronics with Supplier Excellence Award
04/17/2024 | Calumet ElectronicsNorthrop Grumman Corporation has recognized Calumet Electronics during the company’s 2024 Supplier Excellence Awards for “exceptional performance and unwavering commitment to delivering with excellence.” Calumet is one of 70 suppliers recognized from across the globe. In its award category of “Supplier Strategic Excellence,” Calumet was honored alongside global corporations such as Amazon Web Services, Dell Technologies, and Eaton Corporation.