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What is a PCB Board and its Uses?

What is a PCB Board?

The PCB board also called printed wiring board is created with the use of conductive and insulating layers, It has substrate material that is created with epoxy resin over which copper layers are created to make circuits that have symbolic representation to make the design and circuits of the project.

There are two main functions performed by the PCB first one is to make connections of electronic elements to make the circuits through the use of soldering wire and the second one is to provide a solid link between the external elements and some other modules.

There is mechanical support provided to the components through the use of pads to get an accurate combination of elements. On the PCB board, there is a sheet of insulating material that works as the base is existed over which copper layers lie and has lamination from the substrate. There are tracks created through the use of chemical etching that helps to make connections between the layers. On the surface of the board, a coating is applied to make the board safe from other environmental conditions and corrosions.

Different layers can be created on the board, with the layers being connected by vias. Large numbers of layers help to do the routing and single transmission easy. 

Uses of PCB Board

PCB has different types of applications in industries and projects. Some common applications are discussed here:

Medical Devices

With the invention of the PCB board, there has been an evolution in the field of medical devices that are commonly used. Common applications in the field of medicine are MRI, imaging machines and X-ray machines. Different types of boards such as rigid-flex and flexible boards are used for the creation of medical devices.

Aviation Uses

The main types of PCB boards such as rigid-flexible, flexible, and rigid boards are used in the aviation industry in aircraft, and safety systems. The use of PCB in this industry has increased the use of drone systems, and satellite systems in a good way.

Industry uses

The application in the industry has developed different projects such as supply chain automation, system improvement and efficiency in results.  The flexible and rigid-flexible PCB helps engineers to make lightweight and small size boards.

Material of PCB Boards

The main materials used for the creation of PCB are discussed here

Fibreglass

Fibreglass is used as a substrate to create an FR4 (woven glass-reinforced epoxy resin). This substrate gives the non-conductive base circuits on which circuits copper layers are assembled to make the projects. Due to cost polyester and polyethene are used for lamination.

Copper

Since copper is a conductive material that is commonly used in PCB circuits.  Over the substrate material, the layers of copper are redesigned, and over which symbolic representation of different components made to make the projects and circuits.

Soldermask

Over the layers of copper, application of epoxy material is applied called solder mask, which prevents oxidation and solder bridges.  It is also applied for rigid-flexible boards. Soldermask helps to save from damage and disturbing the outer environment conditions. Different colours of solder mask are applied such as green, pink, grey etc on basis of applications

Types of PCB boards

There are different types of PCB boards that are used on the basis of uses and structures that are listed here.

  • Single-layer board
  • Double Layer board
  • Multilayers board
  • Rigid Board

That is all about the PCB board all details about this board have been explained if you have any further queries ask in the comments. Thanks for reading.

I am a professional engineer and graduate from a reputed engineering university also have experience of working as an engineer in different famous industries. I am also a technical content writer my hobby is to explore new things and share with the world
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