PCB Manufacturing Companies Resist Corrosion

Corrosion is the process of oxidation that occurs when oxygen bonds with metal, causing it to flake off and lose its valuable chemical properties. As PCBs are largely made of metal, they’re naturally susceptible to corrosion over time. This is especially true if the board is exposed to moisture and electrolytic contaminants.

Corrosion in PCBs can cause a variety of issues. It can degrade the performance of a circuit board, or even cause it to malfunction altogether. In addition, traces corroded by corrosion can also create dangerous electrical shorts. It can also reduce the dielectric strength of a PCB, which makes it less insulating and more susceptible to leakage currents.

In order to protect your PCB assembly from these hazards, it’s important to make sure that the pcb manufacturing companies process is carried out properly. The first step is ensuring that all surfaces are clean and free of contaminants, including flux residue. It’s also crucial to use a conformal coating that is designed for the specific materials, components, and environment of your PCB.

How Do PCB Manufacturing Companies Resist Corrosion?

Another crucial step is to choose a manufacturer that has the technical expertise and experience to handle your project correctly. A good manufacturer will have a strong track record of producing high-quality boards. They will also be able to offer advice on improving your PCB design, and they’ll keep you updated throughout the production process.

Different metals corrode at different rates, so some of the elements in a printed circuit board are more resistant to corrosion than others. Gold, silver, and graphite resist corrosion indefinitely, while copper and plated tin corrode relatively quickly. For this reason, some manufacturers choose to lay PCB traces using precious metals rather than copper or tin.

A common type of corrosion is general attack corrosion, which is also known as atmospheric corrosion. This type of corrosion happens when the copper traces on a PCB react with the oxygen in the air. This reaction produces copper oxide, which is a poor conductor of electricity. As the copper oxide builds up, it deteriorates the dielectric strength and insulation resistance of the traces, which can lead to malfunctions and short circuits in electronic devices.

Other types of corrosion include electrolytic corrosion and galvanic corrosion. Electrolytic corrosion happens when neighboring traces on a PCB become contaminated with an ionic liquid or electrolytic solution. The contaminants form small slivers of metal that bridge the two traces. This can cause a short circuit that disables the functionality of a functional block on a circuit board.

Galvanic corrosion is a more serious issue than general attack corrosion. It occurs when the copper traces on a PCB are located close to a different metal component, such as a solder point or a bolt. The corroded copper ions interact with the other metal to produce an electrolyte. The metals then corrode in different ways, forming an irreversible damage path that can compromise the reliability of your circuit board.