Materials / Compare
Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. PCB Laminate FR-4
Compare Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. PCB Laminate FR-4 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA panel to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | not given (tensile used) | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 221MPasourcetypical tensile strength, 25 °C (ACMA Test #4) | 246–385MPasourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D3039) |
| Compressive strength | 2,068MPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C773) | not sourced |
| Flexural strength | 358MPasourceflexural strength (MOR), 20 °C (ASTM-F417) | 531–621MPasourcetypical: cross direction .. length direction (IPC-TM-650 2.4.4B) |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 303GPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848) | 21.9–25.8GPasourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D790-15e2) |
| Density | 3,720kg/m³sourcetypical (ASTM-C20) | 1,920kg/m³sourcetypical, 50% resin content; another FR-4 producer: Park Nelco N4000-6 (high-Tg multifunctional epoxy), not Isola 370HR |
| Strength to weight | 59.4kN·m/kg | 164kN·m/kg2.77x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 81.5MN·m/kg6.55x higher | 12.4MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.21sourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848) | 0.171–0.177sourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction |
| Shear modulus | 125GPa12.3x stiffer in shear | 10.2GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 174GPa | 12.2GPa |
| Speed of sound | 9,025m/s | 3,525m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 24.7W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C408) | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical (ASTM E1952); direction not stated by the sheet |
| Thermal expansion | 8.2µm/m·Ksourcemean, 25-1000 °C (ASTM-C372) | 13–14µm/m·Ksourcetypical, in-plane X/Y-axis, below Tg (IPC-TM-650 2.4.24C) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 41µm growth1.65x less | 67.5µm growth |
| Specific heat | 880J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 100 °C (ASTM-E1269) | 1,200–1,400J/kg·Ksourcetypical (ASTM E1461); another FR-4 producer: Park Nelco N4000-6 (high-Tg multifunctional epoxy), not Isola 370HR |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 7.55mm²/s47.1x faster | 0.16mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 1,736W/m5.36x more resistant | 324W/m |
| Glass transition | not sourced | 180°Csourcetypical, DSC (IPC-TM-650 2.4.25C) |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 130°CsourceUL Relative Thermal Index (UL 796) |
| Values for | CoorsTek AD-96, nominal 96% Al2O3 sintered alumina, typical values; CoorsTek "Ceramic Seal Material Properties" (© 2018, 01899 F). AD-96 is the general 96% grade, not the ADS-96R substrate grade. | Isola 370HR FR-4 laminate (Polyclad PCL-FR-370HR, 180 C Tg multifunctional epoxy, E-glass fabric), copper removed; Isola data sheet Revision C, last updated April 15, 2021. Woven-glass laminate: the sheet gives in-plane values per weave direction (length / cross) and the Z-axis CTE separately; the solver is isotropic per material. |
Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Is Ceramic Alumina 96% stronger than PCB Laminate FR-4?
PCB Laminate FR-4 is stronger: its tensile strength is 315 MPa against 221 MPa for Ceramic Alumina 96% (43%).
Which is lighter, Ceramic Alumina 96% or PCB Laminate FR-4?
PCB Laminate FR-4 is lighter: 1,920 kg/m³ against 3,720 kg/m³ for Ceramic Alumina 96%.
Which is stiffer, Ceramic Alumina 96% or PCB Laminate FR-4?
Ceramic Alumina 96% is stiffer: Young's modulus 303 GPa against 23.9 GPa for PCB Laminate FR-4, so the same part in Ceramic Alumina 96% deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Ceramic Alumina 96% or PCB Laminate FR-4?
For the same stiffness or strength: Ceramic Alumina 96% is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; PCB Laminate FR-4 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Ceramic Alumina 96% | PCB Laminate FR-4 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 6.55x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.84x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 20% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.77x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 2.46x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 2.31x heavier | lighter |
For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).
Which conducts heat better, Ceramic Alumina 96% or PCB Laminate FR-4?
Ceramic Alumina 96% conducts heat better: 24.7 W/m·K against 0.4 W/m·K for PCB Laminate FR-4.
Which expands less with temperature?
Ceramic Alumina 96% expands less: 8.2 µm/m·K against 13.5 µm/m·K for PCB Laminate FR-4.