Aluminum Nitride PCB

Superior performance in thermal conductivity and reliability

Aluminum Nitride (AlN) is currently the best ceramic substrate material accessible. Because of its properties of high thermal conductivity (170 W/mK) combined with being a strong dielectric and low expansion (CTE) makes it the material of choice today as a substrate or package for high power LEDs, IC’s, sensors and many other components and circuits.

We can supply Aluminum Nitride PCB with either be printed silver (Ag) or copper (Cu). The choice for one or the other conductor depends on the application, your experience with ceramics, circuit layout, assembly, and cost. Thanks to our experience in the field, we can help you make the right choice for your design.

At CERcuits, we offer two solutions
– C-Proto: Our in-house solution which is perfect for samples, prototypes, and small volume programs. PCBs are made in Belgium at a quick turnaround without the need for any tooling. Speeding up your development while reducing your budget. Quotes & orders can be done 100% online via our portal.
– C-Production: Our medium to high volume solution. Together with our production partners, we can ensure competitive pricing, the right manufacturing footprint & tailored supply chain solutions for your volume program.

Other elements of the PCB, like solder, resist and surface finishes, can be applied similarly to regular PCB when copper metallization is used. However, for silver, the manufacturing process uses thick film and can only offer a blue glass solder mask which is recommended for high-temperature designs. For high sulfur environments where silver corrosion can be an issue, we offer Gold plating (ENIG or thick ENEG – wire bondable) as a solution to protect the exposed pads.

Aluminum Nitride (ALN) PCB advantages:

Superior thermal conductivity 170W/mK
Strong dielectric
High operating temperature >350ºC possible
Low expansion coefficient <4 ppm/C
Smaller package size due to integration
Hermetic packages possible, 0% water absorption
Limited to no outgassing

AlN PCB with green soldermask - Cercuits Prototype AlN PCB

ceramic pcb - Aluminum nitride circuit LED light engine

Download our Aluminum Nitride (ALN) PCB designrules here:

Design rules Aluminum Nitride PCB

In case you need further information, more stringent specification or something is unclear; please contact us.

Property	Items	Unit	AlN
Physical	Color	-	Grey
	Water absorption	%	0
	Reflectivity	%	30*
Electrical	Dielectric Constant (1MHz)	-	9.0
	Dielectric Loss	*10^-3	3
	Dielectric strength	MV/m or KV/mm	>19
	Insulation/Volume resistance	Ω·cm	>10^14
Mechanical	Density after sintering (Bulk density)	g/cm3	3.30
	Flexural Strength (3 point)	Mpa	300
	Surface Roughness	μm	0.3～0.6
	Warpage	%	≦0.3
Thermal	Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE)	ppm/°C	3.16
	Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) RT~500 °C	ppm/°C	4.02
	Thermal Conductivity (25°C)	W/m‧K	170

* Reflectivity test reference thickness of 0.5mm

The data shown is typical of commercially available material and is only offered for comparative purposes. The information shall not be interpreted as absolute material properties nor does it constitute a representation or warranty for which we assume legal liability. User shall determine the suitability of the material for the intended use and assumes all risk and liability whatsoever in connection therewith.

Frequently asked questions about ceramic PCB

Are AlN PCBs expensive?

Yes and No. A simple PCB to PCB comparison will show that AlN circuits are for more expensive than standard or even rogers and/or metal core PCB. This is simply due to the high price of the material and lower panel size (higher processing cost per piece). However, thanks to the better thermal properties, using AlN can lead to simplification of the full module (f.e. reduce the need for active cooling) and therefore decrease the total cost of the full electronics design.

Can AlN PCBs pass reflow and be used in SMT & pick-and-place machines?

Yes, both are possible

Can Aluminum Nitride PCBs be multi-layer?

At this moment we can only manufacture single and double layer designs. We hope to offer this soon.

How big can AlN boards be?

Our prototyping line serves maximum 100x100mm / 3.9″x3.9.

For normal production 125mmx125mm or 5″x 5″ panels are standard but we can accommodate larger boards. Please enquire by contacting us.

Is solder mask, surface finish, and silkscreen possible?

Yes, depending on your requirements (operating temperature, environmental hazards, …) we can supply regular solder resist or glass-based solder mask. Also, silkscreen is possible. Surface finish depends on the metalization but generally OSP, silver, ENIG, and/or ENEPIG are available. We will help you to select the right specifications so it fits your application and design.

What should I take into account when designing circuits layouts for a ceramic board? What are your design rules?

You can download and see our complete design rules above which will give you already a lot of information. A more detailed design for manufacturing checks will be made before we start production. If you are still unsure whether your design is suitable for Ceramic PCB production. Please contact us and we’ll be happy to support you.

To learn more about our other ceramic & ceramic PCB solutions. Click on one of the links below:

Contact Us

If you wish to send us an attachment (f.e. drawing/gerber/project brief/…), please use the form on the contact us page.

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