Polymer substrates

Substrate Materials

Our laser-based processes also are compatible with many different substrate materials, ranging from low-loss polymers to high-temperature ceramics. Laser exposure of photosensitive materials, such as photoresists, uv epoxies, and soldermask materials also opens routes to utlilization of many photolithographic processes, when needed.

Ceramic

Most laser-machinable insulating ceramics are candidate materials for mesoscale circuit fabrication using our technology. As shown in the picture above, demonstration circuits have been fabricated on polished alumina substrates by silver paste filling of laser-milled channels and pads. Attaching miniature IC’s and 0201 and 0402 passives resulted in a working circuit with dimensions of only a few millimeters.

Polymer

Although ceramic substrates are useful in some specialized applications, a larger market need exists for infrastructure based on organic materials. Through use of new electronic nanomaterials that allow high quality conductors to be deposited from paste and sintered at temperatures compatible with organic substrates, the embedded conductor approach can be extended to substrates like polyimide, liquid crystal polymer, ABF (Ajinomoto Buildup Film), and RCC (resin-coated copper)

The figure below shows an example of construction of the same LED flasher circuit on a polyimide substrate. In this example the circuit is mounted on a small, rechargeable Li battery only 7 mm in diameter.