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Title: Dimensional and electrical characteristics of printed boards made with Multipurpose Test Pattern, B-25

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6316148

Printed boards fabricated at six suppliers with Multi-Purpose Test Pattern, B-25 are compared. Fabrication included both panel and pattern plating. Characteristics of bare as well as coated boards were measured. Average deviations of conductor widths from design widths ranged from -10 to -38 microns on phototools and -74 to +33 microns on boards. The deviations depended manly on fabrication period and source. Copper thicknesses obtained from resistance measurements, which ranged from 36 to 84 microns, were within 5% of those obtaid from beta backscatter and cross section measurements. The influence of close spacing of adjacent, current-carrying conductors was illustrated with this test pattern. Breakdown voltages between conductors at separations of 0.08 to 0.76 mm, were roughtly 70% of those for the Paschen curve for air in a quasi-uniform electric field. Mean breakdown voltage V/sub BD/ in kV for conductor separation S in mm is expressed by the relationship, V/sub BD/ = 2.7 S/sup 0/ /sup 60/, regardless of board source. For coated boards, breakdown voltages were significantly higher, but also showed more scatter. Measured data indicate that in most normal board environments, the minimum conductor clearances recommended for circuit design are too conservative and should be changed.

Research Organization:
Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
6316148
Report Number(s):
SAND-77-1837
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English