Project Description
What is an IGBT Ceramic PCB?
Ceramic PCB for IGBT Module
IGBT stands for insulated-gate bipolar transistor. It is a bipolar transistor with an insulated gate terminal. The IGBT combines, in a single device, a control input with a MOS structure and a bipolar power transistor that acts as an output switch. IGBTs Ceramic PCB are suitable for high-voltage, high-current applications. They are designed to drive high-power applications with a low-power input.
IGBT, or Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor, is a BJT transistor with a MOS Gate, or we can say an IGBT module is the combination of a BJT and a MOS Gate. An IGBT chip is small in size, but it can control electrical energy transmission and achieve 100,000 times of current switch at ultra-high voltages of 650 million V in only 1 second.
Ceramic PCBs dissipate thermal from IGBT chip to the outer packaging
You may ask, how much thermal does an IGBT module generate when it works? It is equal to the heat generated by 100 electric furnaces. So much thermal has to be dissipated immediately from the IGBT chip and leads to the application of ceramic PCBs.
How does a ceramic PCB protect the IGBT module from the heat? In an IGBT module, a ceramic PCB is placed under the IGBT chip, or we can say that the chip is assembled on the ceramic circuit board. The ceramic PCB connects and supports the chip and dissipates thermal quickly from it to the outer packaging. In this way, the chip is protected from the influence of thermal.
Why Ceramic PCBs can be used for IGBT thermal dissipation
There are alumina (Al₂O₃) PCBs, aluminum nitride (AlN) PCBs, and silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) PCBs used for thermal dissipation of IGBT modules.
Why ceramic PCBs can dissipate thermal effectively for the IGBT module? Because ceramic materials have good properties of thermal dissipation and electrical insulation. Unlike aluminum substrate PCBs, ceramic PCBs do not use an insulation layer that hinders thermal dissipation. During the ceramic PCB manufacturing process, the copper-clad is directly bonded onto the ceramic substrate at high temperatures under high pressures. Then the circuit layer is manufactured by the photoresist coating method. When the circuit board is manufactured, the IGBT and other components are mounted on the board. Ceramic materials have ultra-high insulation and can withstand breakdown voltage up to 20KV/mm. The thermal conductivity of alumina PCBs is 15-35W/mK, aluminum nitride PCB 170-230W/mK, and silicon nitride PCB 80+W/mK. On the contrary, an aluminum PCB has thermal dissipation of only 1-12W/mK.
