A flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) is a type of PCB that can be bent or twisted to fit into specific spaces or conform to different shapes. Unlike rigid PCBs, FPCBs are made from flexible materials, such as polyimide, and are ideal for use in compact, complex, and high-performance electronic devices.
By understanding the differences between rigid PCB vs flexible PCB, you can make informed decisions for your electronic designs, whether you’re developing wearables, high-performance computers, or aerospace systems.
Flexible PCB is a unique type of printed circuit board that replaces the rigid FR4/metal/PTFE/ceramic substrate with a thin, bendable polyimide (PI) substrate and replaces the solder mask with a PI coverlay. Plated through holes or buried vias insulate and protect the conductive copper traces that connect the various flexible PCB layers to the non-conductive PI material. Flexible circuit board, flexible PCB or FPC is another name for flexible PCB.
The introduction of phenolic resin-based laminates in the 1930s improved mechanical stability and insulation. However, the game-changer was the development of glass-reinforced epoxy laminates (FR-4) in 1940, offering superior electrical insulation, moisture resistance, and mechanical durability.
Flexible Printed Circuits (FPCs), also called Flexible Circuits, or Flex Circuits, by IPC definition, a flexible printed circuit is a patterned arrangement of printed circuitry and components that utilizes flexible based material with or without flexible cover lay. This definition is accurate, and conveys some of the potential given the available variations in base materials, conductor materials, and protective cover materials
The interconnection of electrical contacts between components and electromechanical parts in a PCB ensures the system functions as per the circuit schematic. Selecting an appropriate interconnection method depends on the specific application, balancing reliability, processability, and cost. Below are commonly used PCB interconnection methods, along with their advantages, considerations, and application scenarios
Gangrou combined with print circuit boards allows you to have the advantages of both the beauty. The rigid soft combination of PCB combines the flexibility of the flexible circuit and the durability of the rigid PCB. Flexible printing circuit boards are only flexible materials, which are usually based on polyimide or polyester. They can be single, double or multi -layer boards. The rigid soft combination of PCB also uses flexible and rigid materials. The flexible layer is sandwiched between the rigid layer. The rigid layer has conductors and plating holes to connect the flexible layer to other layers.
A flex PCB is essentially the same thing as a non-flex board except the flexible PCB uses a flexible base material to make its circuit connections. This is most helpful for products that will likely not be stationary devices.