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“Serious about MPCB’s”


Lee Lloyd, Director at Spirit Circuits, talks to A1 Lighting about the thermal challenges of LED lighting.


light output can be achieved, whilst at the same time, a lower junction temperature gives a longer LED lifespan – typically a 10 degree drop in temperature will double the life of the LED.


The MPCB materials are basically copper foil (0.5 – 6.0 ounce) bonded to either an aluminium or copper base using a heat- dissipating dielectric; there are a number of suppliers providing a range of these materials. For most LED applications a simple, single-sided MPCB is sufficient; however, these materials are also used in other designs that require some higher degree of thermal management e.g. power convertors, where double-sided, PTH and multilayer versions are required. Many PCB manufacturers can offer to


The LED Lighting Market has seen significant growth in the past few years, and driven by legislative changes and increasing fuel bills is expected to quadruple by 2016. In the UK, incandescent bulbs were banned at the end of last year, and EU directives have targeted 2016 to phase out halogen bulbs. The cumulative effect of this has been a sea change in the way “traditional” lighting companies approach new developments, and in particular a move towards LED’s mounted onto PCB’s (Printed Circuit Boards). Spirit Circuits Limited, based in Hampshire, identified an opportunity in the LED Lighting market, and in 2009 set up a dedicated facility for the manufacture of Metal Printed Circuit Boards (MPCB) that are commonly used in the mounting of LED’s. Ever increasing demands for higher power devices on PCB’s and for smaller packaging creates constant heat removal issues. MPCBs are used to remove heat from


electronic components as quickly as possible, through the copper and dielectric and into the metal base. By using MPCB technology, a higher LED


process MPCB products, but Spirit Circuits have invested in a technical team of Thermal Experts to offer advice on best constructions and material selections. As an independent supplier, we can recommend materials that offer the best thermal management solutions to keep the LED Lighting designs working at an optimum functioning temperature. The growth in MPCB applications has seen a flood of new materials enter the market, many of which offer performance figures that place the emphasis on the customer to independently test the material for a given application. At Spirit Circuits, we have a test programme designed to


accurately measure and compare the thermal impedance of the different materials and from this calculate the effects of increasing watt density on the substrates in question. From this we are able to derive the thermal conductivity and resistance of each material type, and make recommendations to customers accordingly.


Contact Spirit Circuits +44(0)2392 243000 www.spiritcircuits.com


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