Trouble in Your Tank: Implementing Direct Metallization in Advanced Substrate Packaging
It’s Only Common Sense: Storytelling That Sells—Stop Pitching, Start Painting Pictures
The Right Approach: Get Ready for ISO 9001 Version 6
Laser Patterning & Metallization to Reduce Process Steps for PCB Manufacturing
August 29, 2017 | Joel Schrauben, Cameron Tribe, Christopher Ryder and Jan Kleinert, ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIESEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Abstract
Glass offers a number of advantages as a dielectric material, such as a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), high dimensional stability, high thermal conductivity and suitable dielectric constant. These properties make glass an ideal candidate for, among other things, package substrate and high-frequency PCB applications. We report here a novel process for the production of printed circuit boards and integrated circuit packaging using glass as both a dielectric medium and a platform for wiring simultaneously.
An ultrafast laser is used to etch away the desired pattern (pads, wires and vias) in the glass, and copper plating is “seeded” through the laser-based deposition of copper droplets. The seeded area is then plated using electroless plating followed by electroplating. Demonstrations of fine pitch wires, variable diameter through holes and blind vias, and a multilayer stack are shown. The deposits have a resistivity less than a factor of 1.5x that of bulk copper for 5-10 mm wires. Plated lines in borosilicate glass of 7-10 μm width and 5-20 μm depth and line spacing down to ~10 μm are demonstrated, as well as vias with a top diameter approaching 100 μm for 150 μm glass and 40 μm for 50 μm glass.
The process presents the potential for significant material savings in terms of base materials, process chemicals, and waste disposal/recycling costs (glass is on the order of 100-fold less expensive than some current high-frequency dielectrics, and wet processes account for a large part of standard PCB/substrate manufacturing). Additionally, the processes are amenable toward other dielectric materials such as FR-4, polyimide and PTFE-based materials.
Introduction
Increased demand for high data transmission rates is driving the development of smaller PCB features. Electrical circuits are reaching the physical limitations of traditional PCB dielectric materials under which electromagnetic compatibility can be controlled.
To read the full version of this article which appeared in the August 2017 issue of The PCB Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
Trouble in Your Tank: Implementing Direct Metallization in Advanced Substrate Packaging
09/15/2025 | Michael Carano -- Column: Trouble in Your TankDirect metallization systems based on conductive graphite are gaining popularity throughout the world. The environmental and productivity gains achievable with this process are outstanding. Direct metallization reduces the costs of compliance, waste treatment, and legal issues related to chemical exposure. A graphite-based direct plate system has been devised to address these needs.
Closing the Loop on PCB Etching Waste
09/09/2025 | Shawn Stone, IECAs the PCB industry continues its push toward greener, more cost-efficient operations, Sigma Engineering’s Mecer System offers a comprehensive solution to two of the industry’s most persistent pain points: etchant consumption and rinse water waste. Designed as a modular, fully automated platform, the Mecer System regenerates spent copper etchants—both alkaline and acidic—and simultaneously recycles rinse water, transforming a traditionally linear chemical process into a closed-loop system.
Driving Innovation: Depth Routing Processes—Achieving Unparalleled Precision in Complex PCBs
09/08/2025 | Kurt Palmer -- Column: Driving InnovationIn PCB manufacturing, the demand for increasingly complex and miniaturized designs continually pushes the boundaries of traditional fabrication methods, including depth routing. Success in these applications demands not only on robust machinery but also sophisticated control functions. PCB manufacturers rely on advanced machine features and process methodologies to meet their precise depth routing goals. Here, I’ll explore some crucial functions that empower manufacturers to master complex depth routing challenges.
Trouble in Your Tank: Minimizing Small-via Defects for High-reliability PCBs
08/27/2025 | Michael Carano -- Column: Trouble in Your TankTo quote the comedian Stephen Wright, “If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving is not for you.” That can be the battle cry when you find that only small-diameter vias are exhibiting voids. Why are small holes more prone to voids than larger vias when processed through electroless copper? There are several reasons.
The Government Circuit: Navigating New Trade Headwinds and New Partnerships
08/25/2025 | Chris Mitchell -- Column: The Government CircuitAs global trade winds continue to howl, the electronics manufacturing industry finds itself at a critical juncture. After months of warnings, the U.S. Government has implemented a broad array of tariff increases, with fresh duties hitting copper-based products, semiconductors, and imports from many nations. On the positive side, tentative trade agreements with Europe, China, Japan, and other nations are providing at least some clarity and counterbalance.