Flexible printed circuits are originally designed to replace traditional wire harnesses. With the advent of it, connectivity, mobility, wearables, and miniaturization the usage of custom silicone rubber keypads has rapidly increased across multiple industries. A flexible circuit is the purest form in the vast array of conductors.

From simple applications to the most complex ones – it offers unparallel flexibility and versatility in nature. Well, flexible PCB technology is consistently rising. In fact, with the application of electronic sectors, automotive and wearable devices the usage of flexible circuits is consistently growing.

Moreover, the compactness and high density of electrical connections reduce the space considerably. In fact, flexible printed circuits can replace many types of wiring, in several applications – reducing the total cost of electrical wiring by 70%.

Structure of Flexible PCB

The flexible printed circuit can be divided into single-layer, double-layer, and multi-layer circuits. The primary elements of flexible printed circuits are:

Dielectric Substrate Film

It is the base material of PCB. This material is most commonly used in polyimide and is characterized by high resistance to traction and temperature.

Electrical Conductor

It is made up of copper and represents the trace of the circuit. It helps to conduct electricity within the wire.

Protective Finish

The protective finish is made with a cover lay and coat. By using adhesive materials like epoxy resin or polyethylene, the various parts of the circuits are joined together.

Advantage of Flexible Printed Circuit

•As the name suggests FPCs can be bent and flexed and allows greater freedom in designing any operation and application. In fact, flexible circuits can adapt to small or irregularity.

•The best part of flexible circuits is they take less space and reduce the weight of the applicator. The optimal use of available space allows better thermal management and reduces the amount of heat to be dissipated.

•In relation to rigid PCBs, flexible circuits prove to be a more reliable and long-lasting option where the circuit is subjected to continuous vibration and mechanical stress.

•The standard interconnected techniques and hand-wired connectors can be replaced by flexible printed circuits.

•The flexible printed circuit is characterized by extremely low weight and thickness and is also accompanied by high mechanical resistance. In fact, they are resistant to high temperatures and atmospheric agents and have good electromagnetic immunity.

•Wiring of multiple electronic devices in the automotive sector like dashboards, displays, and machine interfaces; flexible PCBs are used. In the automotive sector, flexible printed circuits guarantee reliability, durability, and maintenance interventions.

In addition, FPC can reduce the incidents of human error during wiring. FPC technology significantly reduces the size and weight of the application and is one of the key factors for ensuring reliability and compactness.

Wrapping Up

Flexible printed circuits are used in several applications that we use in our everyday life – including smartphones, tablets, cameras, printers, and laptops. In fact, they can be hosted inside our body being one of the fundamental components for pacemakers and defibrillators. With the increase of smaller and lighter, wearables the FPC industry has grown considerably.