When manufacturing boards using LTCC technology, the final cost of electronic devices is significantly reduced, while at the same time the technical characteristics and service life are increased.

In order to address the main objectives of ceramic boards,

Materials used for LTCC technology

which were to increase operating frequencies while retaining ease of fabrication, cost as well as improved performance, a material similar in properties to the ceramic originally used was required.

A precursor to the technology in question was the use of an aluminum oxide metallic layer. This, however, would have required processing at high temperatures, demanding the use of expensive metals that are resistant to this range of temperatures - molybdenum and tungsten. Consequently, reducing the cost of this technology was out of the question.

In LTCC technology, ceramics are blended with various types of glass, the firing temperature for such products is significantly reduced, and the ceramics are sintered in a single cycle. The manufacturing process has become much simpler, and expensive metals are no longer required for production. At the same time, the quality and processing characteristics of boards based on this technology are increasing.

Advantages of LTCC technology and printed circuit boards based on it

These days a large number of high-frequency and medium-frequency devices are being manufactured based on this technology.

Due to the simplicity of the process, not only series production is possible, but also the manufacture of boards according to individual customer specifications.

That is because LTCC boards offer enormous advantages:
1. High board durability is achieved with compact dimensions. It is possible to integrate some passive elements, mount chips on boards, create volumetric circuit design.
2. Technical characteristics and reliability of products are significantly increased. Controllable circuit impedance levels and very low losses are attained. The product is resistant to mechanical and other external shock.
3. High reproducibility of parameters is being observed.
4. The temperature range, in which the product can be used without damage or risk of self-ignition, is greater than that of conventional multilayer ceramic boards.
5. Prototype boards can be produced quickly, without the need for multiple firing cycles.
6. Launch of mass production is possible, even with subsequent parameter changes.
7. Low cost of the manufacturing procedure, reduced cost of the final product.

In order to understand the capabilities of LTCC ceramic boards, it is worth looking at the manufacturing process:

Ceramic board manufacturing process using LTCC technology.

– firstly the raw ceramic strip is formed;
– then the material is shaped and cut to size for the workpieces;
– temperature stabilization;
– creating holes for interlayer contact connections;
– filling these holes with electro-conductive materials;
– printing of conductive circuits via a stencil mask;
– implementing the assembly windows for the board components;
– assembling all layers;
– pressing;
– flogging;
– sintering of ceramics by firing;
– module cutting.

The final step is to test the LTCC ceramic boards and check that they meet the specified parameters.

Saifon Technologies ceramic sheet

As an international company, «Saifon Technologies» has been manufacturing printed circuit boards of varying complexity for more than 10 years.

The company provides a full product cycle, from the design stage to the full production cycle of high-tech printed circuit boards.

Highlights of the company include:
— extensive experience with printed circuit boards;
— high level of trust to products globally;
— the most advanced high-tech equipment is used for production;
— several stages of testing and control of finished products;
— possibility of both design by customer parameters and manufacture according to initial data;
— mass production or private order - it does not matter, the result is high quality ceramic boards, fully compliant with technical data specified.

The company has representative offices all over the world ensuring that there are no logistical problems.

Saifon Technologies stands for quality assurance of the LTCC printed circuit boards, which has been proven by years and hundreds of thousands of users of household and electrical appliances based on components manufactured by the brand.