Electronics vs. Physics: Why Vias Don’t Get Hot

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

Most of are aware that when we pass an electrical current through a trace (conductor), the trace will heat up. This temperature increase is caused by the I²R power loss dissipated in the resistance of the trace. The resistance of a copper trace is mostly determined by its geometry (cross-sectional area), and there are lots of studies trying to look at the relationship between the current down a trace (of known size) and the resulting temperature of the trace.

But the situation is much more complicated than this. There are physical properties that exist that result in helping to cool the trace. These properties are usually a combination of conduction of the heat away from the trace through the material, convection of the heat away from the trace through the air, and radiation of the heat away from the trace. A stable temperature is reached when the I²R heating equals the cooling—i.e., when the electronic and physical properties are balanced.

We have spent several (enjoyable) years collaborating on these effects. Douglas is an electrical engineer and understands electronics. Johannes is a thermodynamics physicist, and understands heat transfer. Between us we learned a lot about the thermal characteristics of vias.

Vias Don’t Get Very Hot
Traces heat because of the current through their resistance, resulting in I²R power losses. This temperature increase is caused by what we call “Joule heating”:

Joule heating is the physical effect by which the pass(age) of current through an electrical conductor produces thermal energy. This thermal energy is then evidenced through a rise in the conductor material temperature, thus the term “heating.” One can see Joule heating as a transformation between “electrical energy” and “thermal energy,” following the energy conservation principle.

We are all aware that, in general, for a given trace an increase in current through the trace will correspond to an increase in temperature of the trace. When it comes to vias, the industry guidelines have generally been to size the cross-sectional area of a via to equal that of its parent trace. Then the via will be the same temperature as the trace. 

To read this entire article, which appeared in the November 2022 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.