Ceramic PCB technology advances...

[Piotr Wyderski]

So I have just received a piece of two-side Cu alumina plate for
experiments. Purchased two 11x11cm plates on AliExpress -- the cost of
ceramic PCBs is prohibitive, so I wanted to conduct some research before
ordering a test batch. And here they came:

https://i.postimg.cc/RZzcSYMF/scam.png

They turned out to be sheets of alumina covered with a cheap golden
spray that can be peeled off by scrubbing with a fingernail. No, I am
not kidding. Just a big WOW: counterfeiting THAT kind of stuff?

Best regards, Piotr

 

[Joe Gwinn]

On Fri, 28 Aug 2020 20:43:03 +0200, Piotr Wyderski
<peter.pan@neverland.mil> wrote:

So I have just received a piece of two-side Cu alumina plate for
experiments. Purchased two 11x11cm plates on AliExpress -- the cost of
ceramic PCBs is prohibitive, so I wanted to conduct some research before
ordering a test batch. And here they came:

https://i.postimg.cc/RZzcSYMF/scam.png

They turned out to be sheets of alumina covered with a cheap golden
spray that can be peeled off by scrubbing with a fingernail. No, I am
not kidding. Just a big WOW: counterfeiting THAT kind of stuff?

Does the film contain any copper? I\'m wondering if the intent is to
cut away what isn\'t wanted, an then fire the piece.

Joe Gwinn

 

[Piotr Wyderski]

Joe Gwinn wrote:

> Does the film contain any copper?

Hard to say, that would require a bit of analytics and I have no access
to my magic chemistry little box at the moment. The surface looks
somewhere between brass and gold and is not conducting any detectable
current.

I\'m wondering if the intent is to
cut away what isn\'t wanted, an then fire the piece.

A very interesting idea. But this is not compatible with any form of
ceramic substrate PCB technology I know of (DBC and DPC), which involves
a quite typical etching. A new game in town?

Best regards, Piotr