Aluminum PCBs (MCPCBs) | Superior Thermal Management & Reliability
Uniting Strength & Flexibility for Advanced Electronics
When component density and power levels push the thermal limits of standard FR4, Aluminum PCBs (Metal Core Printed Circuit Boards) provide the critical thermal path for reliable performance. By integrating a thermally conductive dielectric layer with an aluminum substrate, these boards efficiently pull heat away from critical components, reducing junction temperatures and significantly extending product lifespan.
HT Global Circuits (HTGC) is a leading aluminum PCB manufacturer with the engineering expertise to deliver robust solutions for your most thermally challenging applications. From high-lumen LEDs to automotive power systems, we provide the thermal management foundation your designs require.
HT Global Circuit’s Aluminum PCB Capabilities
HT Global Circuits leverages advanced Via-in-Pad technology to deliver high-density PCB solutions that meet the demands of modern electronic applications.
| Manufacture | Product | UL Approved | Flammability UL94 | Glass Transition Temp Tg Celsius | Decomposition Temp by TGA Celsius | Dk 1 GHz | Df 1 GHz |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ventec |
VT4B3 |
Yes |
V-0 |
130 |
380 |
4.8
@1MHz
|
0.016
@1MHz
|
|
|
VT4B5 |
Yes |
V-0 |
120 |
380 |
4.8
@1MHz
|
0.016
@1MHz
|
|
BERGQUIST
|
Bergquest HT |
Yes |
V-1 |
150 |
Datasheet available upon request |
7
|
0.013
@1MHz
|
|
|
Bergquest HT |
Yes |
V-2 |
110 |
Datasheet available upon request |
6
|
0.017
@1MHz
|
|
Boyu |
AL-01-B30L |
Yes |
V-0 |
130 |
400 |
4.8
@1MHz
|
<0.02
@1MHz
|
Key Characteristics of Aluminum Circuit Boards
Engineered to deliver both performance and efficiency, aluminum PCBs provide a trusted foundation for electronic designs that require superior thermal management and long-term reliability.
Superior Thermal Management
Aluminum PCBs feature aluminum base layer, which provides excellent thermal conductivity, allowing heat to transfer away from components quickly. Heat flows from components through the dielectric layer into the aluminum base, which acts as a massive heat spreader. This efficient heat dissipation helps prevent overheating, improves system stability, and makes aluminum PCBs particularly effective in high-power applications, such as LED lighting and automotive electronics.
Lightweight and Durable
Built on a strong yet lightweight aluminum base, aluminum PCBs offer excellent mechanical stability while reducing overall product weight, ideal for compact and portable electronic devices.
Enhanced Reliability Under High Loads
Thanks to their proven thermal and mechanical properties, aluminum circuit boards maintain consistent performance under heavy electrical and thermal stress. This ensures longer product lifespans, reduced maintenance needs, and improved reliability in demanding environments.
Environmentally Friendly Solution
Aluminum PCBs are more eco-friendly compared to traditional materials, as the aluminum base is recyclable and non-toxic. Their efficient heat dissipation reduces the need for additional cooling components, lowering overall material use and energy consumption, making them a sustainable choice for modern electronic designs.
Engineering Capabilities & Fabrication Options
HT Global Circuits (HTGC) provides engineering-driven aluminum PCB fabrication with flexible design options to meet the most demanding performance requirements. Our aluminum PCB solutions include:
- Aluminum Thicknesses: We support aluminum thicknesses ranging from 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm, providing customers the flexibility to select the right balance of strength, weight, and thermal performance for their application.
- Dielectric Materials: Our boards are manufactured with dielectric materials rated at TG >120°C and featuring thermal conductivity from 1.0 – 3.0 W/m·K, enabling superior heat transfer and long-term reliability in high-power designs.
- Copper Weights: HTGC offers copper weights ranging from 0.5 oz to 3 oz, enabling engineers to optimize current-carrying capacity while maintaining durability and performance consistency. Additionally, heavy copper (e.g., 4-10 oz) is possible but may require a different fabrication approach.
- Surface Finishes: We offer various surface finish options including ENIG, OSP, and Immersion Silver, ensuring excellent solderability, corrosion resistance, and compatibility with various assembly processes.
- Solder Mask Options: Our aluminum PCB fabrication process features robust solder mask applications designed to protect circuits, enhance insulation, and improve design versatility.
- Drilling & Routing Precision: We maintain strict accuracy in drill sizes, routing tolerances, and profile shaping, ensuring precise fit, reliability, and quality for even the most complex aluminum PCB designs.
- Scalable Production: HTGC supports everything from quick-turn prototypes to full-scale production runs, delivering consistent quality, on-time delivery, and cost-effective solutions.
Industries & Applications of Aluminum Printed Circuit Boards
HT Global Circuits (HTGC) delivers aluminum PCB solutions that power some of the most demanding and reliability-driven industries.
- LED Lighting Systems: We design and deliver aluminum PCBs for high-performance LED lighting applications, including streetlights, automotive headlights, and industrial lighting systems, where efficient heat dissipation directly translates to longer lifespan and stable illumination.
- Power Electronics: Our aluminum PCB solutions are widely used in power converters, voltage regulators, and battery management systems, offering excellent thermal conductivity and electrical reliability for high-power applications.
- Automotive Systems: As the automotive industry moves toward electrification, HTGC delivers aluminum PCBs for EV controllers, onboard chargers, and heat-sensitive electronic modules, ensuring robust performance under high thermal loads.
- Consumer Electronics: From audio devices and amplifiers to compact power adapters, HTGC supports the consumer sector with lightweight and durable aluminum PCBs designed for consistent performance in everyday electronics.
- Industrial Equipment: For heavy-duty environments, HTGC manufactures aluminum PCBs for high-wattage control panels, motor drivers, and automation systems, where mechanical strength and thermal stability are essential to long-term reliability.
Prototyping to Production at HT Global Circuits
HTGC provides scalable aluminum PCB solutions that grow with your project needs:
- Quick-Turn Prototyping: Our expertise in quick-turn aluminum PCB fabrication allows us to deliver prototypes within 48-72 hours, helping engineers validate designs quickly and accelerate time-to-market.
- Flexible Batch Sizes: Our facilities support low to medium production quantities, making it easy to conduct pilot runs or address specialized applications without unnecessary costs.
- High-Volume Manufacturing: For large-scale needs, HTGC offers offshore volume production, combining cost efficiency with the same high-quality standards as our prototype services.
- Seamless Transition: Customers benefit from a smooth transition from prototype to full-scale production, with consistent engineering-driven processes ensuring reliability at every stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aluminum PCBs are built on a thermally conductive aluminum base rather than standard fiberglass (FR4). This gives them far superior heat dissipation, mechanical stability, and reliability in high-power applications where FR4 boards may fail due to overheating.
Yes, while many aluminum PCBs are single-sided or double-sided, HTGC provides multilayer aluminum PCB solutions. These enable more complex circuitry and integration for applications, such as advanced automotive systems and high-density power electronics.
While aluminum PCBs may have a higher material cost than FR4 boards, they reduce the need for additional cooling systems and extend product lifespan. This makes them cost-effective for long-term, high-reliability applications such as LED lighting and power management systems.
Yes, aluminum PCBs can support heavy copper designs, making them suitable for power circuits that demand both high current capacity and effective thermal management.
Yes, HTGC offers aluminum PCBs with dielectric layers that range from 1.0 to 3.0 W/m·K, allowing customers to select the right thermal conductivity level for their application’s heat dissipation requirements.
Yes, the inherent mechanical strength of the aluminum base makes these boards highly resistant to shock, vibration, and mechanical stress, which is why they are widely adopted in automotive and industrial equipment.
Yes, hybrid aluminum PCBs can integrate FR4 or other substrates with aluminum bases, allowing designers to balance thermal performance with complex circuit requirements.v
HTGC adheres to rigorous quality management systems and utilizes UL-approved materials, subjecting them to strict testing for flammability, Tg, thermal conductivity, and profile accuracy to ensure consistent performance from prototype to volume runs.