Selection and Preparation

Overview

Dielectric substrates that have been clad with copper foil are one of the basic "raw materials" of the electronics industry. Originally made of phenolic, they are now available in a variety ofmaterials, and thicknesses. Selecting the right "copperclad" depends on theelectrical, thermal, and mechanical characteristics that your application demands. Although there are some pretty exotic combinations to chose from, the vast majority ofcircuit designs can be tested and tweaked using substrates based on a glass/epoxy composite known as FR-4.