On the Line with...

The Green Circuit—Sustainability in PCB Manufacturing

As each area of electronics and manufacturing take a more serious look at sustainability and end product circularity, the base material of the PCB should in central in that discussion. In this episode of On the Line with, Isola’s Kirk Thompson explains the “green circuit,” new directions in materials and engineering that address important environmental impact issues such as the amount of energy it takes to process a particular material type, or how much copper is wasted in the process. As engineers seek materials that minimize VOC emissions or are designed for cleaner fabrication, there are many factors to consider. From halogen-free to PFAS to simply avoiding unnecessary extra layers in your board, Kirk has a lot of information you will want to hear.

5G, AI & Beyond—Designing for High-speed Performance

It's no surprise to anyone that AI is transforming the rules of electronics, demanding speed, power, and frequency performance beyond what traditional electronics offer. Is AI rendering yesterday’s materials obsolete? In this episode of On the Line With, Isola's Drew Delaney offers a firsthand look at the materials science quietly powering everything from hyperscale AI data centers to 5G antennas and rugged edge devices. From ultra-low-loss laminates measured in thousandths of a decimal to PCBs designed to withstand liquid cooling, desert heat, and a decade of use without maintenance, what properties must these materials have to thrive in a world rushing toward high-speed performance beyond 400G? Drew Delaney has the details.

Material Selection—The Key to Manufacturing Success

The base laminate of a printed circuit board is its literal and functional foundation. Making the right material choice for your build is key to manufacturing success and product reliability. In this episode of On the Line With, Sean Mirshafiei from Isola talks about the critical role of PCB base material has played, and continues to play, in electronics manufacturing. As today's technology demands drive the development of new material solutions, Sean also discussed Isola's role in the electronics manufacturing ecosystem and the material suites they are bringing to the market today to address these challenging demands, especially in terms of reliability in harsh environments, signal integrity, and power considerations.

Remtec: Ceramic Comes of Age in the Complex Design World

Remtec president, Brian Buyea, leads us through ceramic as a board substrate, including a discussion of the ideal applications, technical advantages, and a customer story or two. Remtec's 35 years of manufacturing experience, along with a staff of qualified engineers, creates a deeply collaborative relationship with their customers.

Ultra HDI? It Depends

In this episode, John Johnson wraps up this series with some frequently asked engineering questions about UHDI adoption and gives some tips on when it's the right time to look at UHDI as a manufacturing solution.