Key Materials

• Substrates: Polyimide (PI) stands as the industry standard, prized for its ability to handle temperatures up to 300°C while maintaining flexibility—critical for high-heat environments like automotive engine bays or industrial machinery. Its chemical resistance also makes it ideal for medical devices exposed to sterilization fluids. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) offers a budget-friendly alternative, though it struggles with extreme heat, finding use in low-power gadgets like remote controls or basic sensors.
• Conductors: Copper remains the primary choice, with two common forms: rolled copper (for superior flexibility in repeatedly bent devices like foldable phones) and electrodeposited copper (better for fine, dense circuits in wearables). For harsh environments—such as marine equipment or outdoor sensors—gold-plated copper adds a protective layer, resisting corrosion from salt, moisture, or chemicals.
• Adhesives & Cover Layers: Epoxy adhesives bond substrate layers, striking a balance between flexibility and structural strength. In high-performance scenarios—like aerospace electronics—adhesive-free designs reduce thickness and improve heat dissipation. Cover layers, often made from PI or PET, shield copper traces from physical damage and dust, ensuring long-term reliability in daily-use devices.

Top Applications

• Consumer Electronics: From smartphones (where they connect curved screens to motherboards) to wireless earbuds (fitting tiny circuits into compact casings), flexible PCBs enable sleek, portable designs. They’re also key in smartwatches, routing signals between touchscreens, heart rate monitors, and batteries without adding bulk.
• Automotive Systems: Modern cars depend on them for infotainment (linking touchscreens to speakers and GPS modules) and safety features like ADAS—where they tuck into tight spaces behind bumpers to connect radar and cameras. In electric vehicles, they manage battery packs, monitoring cell health and balancing charge across hundreds of cells.
• Medical Devices: Their small size and flexibility make them indispensable in pacemakers (fitting into chest cavities) and portable monitors (withstanding frequent movement). Endoscopes use them to transmit images from tiny cameras, while surgical robots rely on flexible PCBs for precise, vibration-resistant signal routing.
• Aerospace & Defense: Lightweight and durable, they power avionics in commercial planes (managing navigation systems) and satellites (withstanding extreme temperature swings in space). Military gear, like night-vision goggles, uses them to maintain connectivity in rugged, high-impact environments.