Microtek Laboratories China Completes First USA IPC-4101E Validation Services Test Program

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Microtek Laboratories China has completed the first qualification testing program for IPC-4101 Validation Services for a USA manufacturer of copper-clad laminates and prepreg. The Qualification Testing for IPC-4101 Validation Services must be conducted at an IPC-approved independent test lab. The product tested from Arlon Electronic Materials Division was the first copper-clad laminate material supplier in the United States to qualify under the IPC Validation Services program for IPC-4101. The testing protocol followed the requirements of IPC-4101 for qualification specification sheet 40, 41 and 42 for polyimide base materials:

From IPC-4101:

3.4 Qualification Testing Laminate and prepreg base materials furnished under this specification shall be qualified as described in Table 3-1 for laminates and Table 3-2 for prepregs. The supplier shall retain on file, supporting data that the materials meet the requirements of this specification using the test methods described herein. Qualification testing shall be performed to demonstrate the supplier’s ability to meet all of the requirements of each applicable specification sheet for each base material.

The qualification tests for each base material included minimum performance characteristics such as peel strength after various conditioning steps, electrical performance, Dk / Df, physical properties, dimensional stability, moisture absorption, chemical resistance, and flammability.

According to Doug Sober, director - International Sales & Marketing, “This is the start of many qualification projects for IPC-4101 as high-end base material suppliers attempt to separate their products from the rest of the commodity producers. As an IPC Validation Services qualified laboratory for IPC-4101, Microtek Laboratories China is proud to be a part of this program." 

About Microtek Laboratories China

Microtek Laboratories China is a leading third-party testing agency, serving the electronics and polymeric materials manufacturing industry world-wide. It is operated in accordance with the ISO/IEC17025: 2005 management system, accredited by CNAS, CMA, and many large OEM’s. The lab provides testing and conformance verification to company, national & international standards for automotive, telecommunication, aerospace & aviation, electronic information products, polymeric products and other related industries and suppliers. It is a CQC licensed lab for "Non-metal materials" including printed circuit boards (PCB), copper-clad laminates (CCL) and plastics. The lab is also designated as the product service center for CPCA, an authorized training center for IPC-6012, IPC-A-610 & IPC-A-600, as well as a IPC Validation Services Qualified Test Laboratory for IPC-6012 and IPC-4101. In addition, Microtek Laboratories China has the capability of temperature and humidity calibration as recognized by CNAS.