Application of direct bonded copper substrates for prototyping of power electronic modules
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present certain issues in direct bonded copper (DBC) technology towards the manufacture of Al2O3 or AlN ceramic substrates with one or both sides clad with a copper (Cu) layer.
Design/methodology/approach
As part of the experimental work, attempts were made to produce patterns printed onto DBC substrates based on four substantially different technologies: precise cutting with a diamond saw, photolithography, the use of a milling cutter (LPKF ProtoMat 93s) and laser ablation with differential chemical etching of the Cu layer.
Findings
The use of photolithography and etching technology in the case of boards clad with a 0.2-mm-thick Cu layer, can produce conductive paths with a width of 0.4 mm while maintaining a distance of 0.4 mm between the paths, and in the case of boards clad with a 0.3-mm-thick copper layer, conductive paths with a width of 0.5 mm while maintaining a distance of 0.5 mm between paths. The application of laser ablation at the final step of removing the unnecessary copper layer, can radically increase the resolution of printed pattern even to 0.1/0.1 mm. The quality of the printed pattern is also much better.
Research limitations/implications
Etching process optimization and the development of the fundamentals of technology and design of power electronic systems based on DBC substrates should be done in the future. A limiting factor for further research and its implementation may be the relatively high price of DBC substrates in comparison with typical PCB printed circuits.
Practical implications
Several examples of practical implementations using DBC technology are presented, such as full- and half-bridge connections, full-wave rectifier with an output voltage of 48 V and an output current of 50 A, and part of a battery discharger controller and light-emitting diode illuminator soldered to a copper heat sink.
Originality/value
The paper presents a comparison of different technologies used for the realization of precise patterns on DBC substrates. The combination of etching and laser ablation technologies radically improves the quality of DBC-printed patterns.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The completion of this study could not have been accomplished without partial financing within the framework of the MIME POIG.01.01.02-00-108/09 project.
Citation
Grzesiak, W., Maćków, P., Maj, T., Synkiewicz, B., Witek, K., Kisiel, R., Myśliwiec, M., Borecki, J., Serzysko, T. and Żupnik, M. (2016), "Application of direct bonded copper substrates for prototyping of power electronic modules", Circuit World, Vol. 42 No. 1, pp. 23-31. https://doi.org/10.1108/CW-10-2015-0051
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited