Flexible Printed Circuits (FPC), also written as Flexible Circuit, Flexible PCB, Flex Circuit, or Flex PCB, which is built with flexible base substrate PI (polyimide) or PET (polyester). And polyimide is the preferred material. Unlike rigid PCBs, flexible circuits have ability to enable the circuitry to be conformed to a desired shape of product, or to flex during its use. Flexible circuits are thin, light-weight electrical circuits that conform to small spaces and contoured shapes. We are the reliable quick-turn flexible circuit manufacturer and provider in Shenzhen, China.
Flexible printed circuits were originally designed as a replacement for traditional wire harness. A flexible circuit in its purest form is a vast array of conductors bonded to a thin dielectric film. Nowadays, flexible circuit technologies are widely used in all walks of life from the simple applications. It's said that flexible PCBs constitute about 10%-15% of all PCBs production globally. Electric and electronic hardware developers bring FPCBs to automotive, medical, telecom, industrial or commercial applications.
By far the biggest drives for flexible-circuit technology are the range of benefits and capabilities that the technology offers. Some of the advantages of flexible printed circuits are highlighted in below table.
| Cost Reduction | Performance | Others |
|---|---|---|
| Elimination of wiring errors associated with manual wire harnesses | Dynamic flexing | Reduced weight |
| Simplified PCB assembly | 3D packaging | Reduced PCB assembly size |
| Reduction in component numbers | Excellent control over transmission | Convenience of roll-to-roll processing |
| Reduced PCB assembly effort and time | Impedance control | Increased package density |
| Increase reliability | Lower inductance than normal wiring | Improved product appearance |
| Improved heat dissipation | More integrated design | |
| Improved airflow capabilities |
With a typical flexible circuit, four distinct classes of materials are used:
A suitable base material has to perform a variety of important functions. It must electrically insulate the conductivity circuit tracks from one another and it must be compatible with any adhesives used for conductor or coverlay bonding. Under normal circumstances the base material will also provide the circuit with much of its mechanical characteristics, such as its flexing strength and durability.
Copper is the material of choice for flexible circuit conductors. The relatively low cost of copper, its high workability, good plating and good electrical characteristics make it an excellent material for flex PCB conductors. There are several different kinds of copper available, which can be matched by the circuit designer to specific applications.
Adhesive play an important role in flexible circuits. They are used to provide a secure join between the substrate and the chosen conductor material, to join circuits together where multilayer or rigid-flex constructions are required, and to provide a protective coverlay over exposed conductors once they formed.
A coverlayer, also known as a 'cover layer', is usually a combination of a flexible film and a suitable pressure-sensitive or thermosetting adhesive. The most commonly used materials are polyester film coated with polyester adhesive, polyimide film with acrylic adhesive, and polyimide film with epoxy adhesive.
Jichangsheng Technology is a reliable quick-turn flexible circuit manufacturer and provider in Shenzhen, China. We specialize in 1-8 layer flexible PCBs and 2-12 layer rigid-flex PCBs. Our FPC capabilities support trace width and spacing down to 2/1.6mil with quick-turn prototyping and mass production services.