Alumina ceramic thermal conductivity determines how efficiently heat transfers through your PCB substrate. As electronics shrink and power densities increase, managing heat becomes critical. This article explores everything about alumina’s thermal properties and how to optimize them for your PCB applications.
Many engineers struggle with overheating issues in high-power circuits. Have you faced these common challenges?
- Components failing prematurely due to heat buildup
- Limited space for traditional cooling solutions
- Inconsistent performance across temperature ranges
- Difficulty finding materials that balance electrical and thermal needs
- High costs associated with thermal management solutions
The good news is that proper material selection and design can solve these problems. Here’s how we address these challenges at EBest Circuit (Best Technology):
- âFor premature failures: We use high-purity (96-99.5%) alumina substrates with optimized thermal vias
- âFor space constraints: Our thin-film processing enables compact designs down to 0.15mm thickness
- âFor temperature stability: We offer CTE-matched materials (7.3 ppm/K) for reliable thermal cycling
- âFor material balance: Our hybrid designs combine alumina’s insulation with copper’s conductivity
- âFor cost control: We provide value engineering to optimize performance vs. budget
With â19 years of expertise, EBest Circuit (Best Technology) specializes in âhigh-performance ceramic PCBs, including alumina, aluminum nitride (AlN), DPC, DBC, and LTCC/HTCC solutions. As a âtrusted partnerâ for industries ranging from power electronics to medical devices, we combine âcutting-edge processesâ with rigorous quality control to deliver superior thermal managementâ (up to 40 W/mK alumina substrates), âprecision manufacturingâ (50ÎŒm line widths, 100ÎŒm vias), ârapid prototyping, full turnkey solutionsâ from design to assembly. Pls contact us at sales@bestpcbs.com for any special ceramic PCB requirements.â A deep understanding of our clients’ needs is very much part of the value we create.

What is Alumina Ceramic Thermal Conductivity?
Alumina ceramic thermal conductivity refers to how well AlâOâ transfers heat. Typical values range from 20-40 W/mK for commercial grades, with high-purity versions reaching up to 40 W/mK. This makes it significantly better than FR4 (0.3 W/mK) but less conductive than aluminum nitride (140-180 W/mK).
Alumina’s thermal performance stems from its crystalline structure. The tightly packed oxygen and aluminum ions form an efficient phonon transport path. Three key structural factors affect conductivity:
- âCrystal orientation: Heat flows faster along certain crystal planes
- âGrain boundaries: More boundaries increase phonon scattering
- âDefects: Impurities disrupt the regular lattice structure
In PCB applications, we typically see:
- Standard 92% alumina: 20-25 W/mK
- High-purity 96% alumina: 25-30 W/mK
- Premium 99.5% alumina: 30-40 W/mK
What is the thermal conductivity of AlâOâ vs AlN?
The thermal conductivity difference between alumina (AlâOâ) and aluminum nitride (AlN) stems from their atomic structures:
- âPhonon Transport Efficiencyâ
- AlN’s simpler crystal structure allows longer phonon mean free paths
- Alumina’s more complex structure causes more phonon scattering
- âTemperature Dependenceâ
- AlN maintains high conductivity (140-180 W/mK) up to 300°C
- Alumina’s conductivity drops ~10% per 100°C rise
Aluminum nitride (AlN) outperforms alumina significantly:
- âThermal Conductivityâ
- AlN: 140-180 W/mK
- AlâOâ: 18-30 W/mK
- âElectrical Propertiesâ
- Both offer excellent insulation
- AlN maintains properties at higher temperatures
- âMechanical Strengthâ
- Alumina is harder and more scratch-resistant
- AlN is more brittle
- âCost Considerationsâ
- Alumina costs about 1/3 of AlN
- For many applications, alumina provides sufficient performance
- âProcessingâ
- Alumina is easier to machine and shape
- AlN requires more specialized handling
âPractical Implicationsâ
- AlN suits applications needing >100 W/mK
- Alumina works well for 20-40 W/mK requirements
- Cost difference: AlN typically 3-5x more expensive
âOur Recommendationâ
- Use AlN for laser diodes, power modules >500W
- Choose alumina for cost-sensitive applications <200W
How to calculate Alumina Ceramic Thermal Conductivity?
Calculating thermal conductivity involves multiple approaches:
1. Steady-State Methods (Best for Bulk Materials)
Use Fourier’s Law with measured parameters:
k = (Q Ă L) / (A Ă ÎT)
Where:
- k = thermal conductivity (W/mK)
- Q = heat input (W)
- L = sample thickness (m)
- A = cross-sectional area (mÂČ)
- ÎT = temperature difference (K)
2. Transient Methods (Better for Thin Samples)
Laser flash analysis measures thermal diffusivity (α):
k = α Ă Ï Ă Cp
Where:
- Ï = density (kg/mÂł)
- Cp = specific heat (J/kg·K)
3. Empirical Correlations
For alumina ceramics, we often use:
k = 40 - 0.05T - 0.0002TÂČ (for 96% AlâOâ)
Where T is temperature in °C
Practical Calculation Example:
For a 1mm thick alumina PCB (96% purity) dissipating 50W over 10cmÂČ area with 20°C temperature rise:
k = (50 Ă 0.001) / (0.001 Ă 20) = 25 W/mK
Alumina thermal conductivity vs. temperature
Alumina’s thermal conductivity shows predictable temperature dependence:
- âRoom Temperature Range (25-100°C)ââ
- Conductivity decreases linearly by ~10%
- Phonon-phonon scattering increases with temperature
- âIntermediate Range (100-500°C)ââ
- Decrease slows to ~5% per 100°C
- Defect scattering becomes dominant
- âHigh Temperature (>500°C)ââ
- Conductivity stabilizes or increases slightly
- Radiation heat transfer contributes
âPCB Design Implications:ââ
- Derate components by 1-2% per °C above 50°C
- Use thermal simulation software (e.g., ANSYS) for accurate predictions
- Consider active cooling for sustained high-power operation
What is alumina ceramic thermal expansion coefficient?
Alumina’s thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) of 7.3 ppm/K provides exceptional dimensional stability. This low expansion comes from strong ionic bonds in the crystal structure.
CTE Calculation Method:
ÎL = α Ă Lâ Ă ÎT
Where:
- ÎL = length change (m)
- α = CTE (7.3Ă10â»â¶/K for alumina)
- Lâ = original length (m)
- ÎT = temperature change (K)
Example Calculation:
A 100mm alumina PCB heated from 25°C to 125°C:
ÎL = 7.3Ă10â»â¶ Ă 0.1 Ă 100 = 0.073mm
Design Considerations:
- âComponent Attachmentâ
- Match solder CTE (SnAgCu ~16 ppm/K)
- Use compliant interposers for large dies
- âMultilayer Boardsâ
- Alternate high/low CTE layers
- Balance stresses to prevent warping
- âThermal Cyclingâ
- Limit ÎT <150°C for long life
- Use finite element analysis for critical designs
Why Alumina Ceramic Thermal Conductivity so important on PCBs?
Effective thermal management impacts five key performance areas:
- âReliabilityâ
- 10°C reduction doubles component lifespan
- Prevents thermal runaway in power devices
- âElectrical Performanceâ
- Lower junction temperatures improve:
- MOSFET Rds(on) by 15-20%
- IGBT switching losses by 30%
- Lower junction temperatures improve:
- âMechanical Stabilityâ
- Minimizes thermal stress at interfaces
- Reduces solder joint fatigue
- âSystem Integrationâ
- Enables higher power density
- Eliminates bulky heat sinks
- âCost Efficiencyâ
- Fewer thermal failures mean lower warranty costs
- Smaller form factors reduce packaging expenses
Our data shows optimized alumina PCBs can:
- Increase power density by 3-5x vs FR4
- Reduce thermal resistance by 40-60%
- Extend product lifetimes 2-3x
What are the properties of alumina ceramic PCB?
Alumina PCBs combine unique thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties:
Thermal Properties
| Parameter | Value | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Conductivity | 20-40 W/mK | Heat dissipation |
| CTE | 7.3 ppm/K | Dimensional stability |
| Max Temp | 1000°C | High-temp operation |
Electrical Properties
| Parameter | Value | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Resistivity | >10Âč⎠Ω·cm | Insulation |
| Dielectric Strength | 15 kV/mm | High voltage |
| Loss Tangent | 0.0002 | RF performance |
Mechanical Properties
| Parameter | Value | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | 9 Mohs | Wear resistance |
| Flex Strength | 400 MPa | Structural integrity |
| Density | 3.9 g/cmÂł | Weight savings |
Finally, alumina ceramic PCBs offer exceptional manufacturing advantages including excellent dimensional stability, strong chemical resistance, and seamless compatibility with thick-film processes.
How to Improve Alumina Ceramic Thermal Conductivity in PCBs?
We implement these proven methods for better thermal performance:
Material Enhancements
- âPurity Optimizationâ
- 96% alumina: 25-30 W/mK
- 99.5% alumina: 30-40 W/mK
- âGrain Size Controlâ
- 5ÎŒm grains: +15% conductivity vs 20ÎŒm
- Achieved through controlled sintering
- âDoping Strategiesâ
- MgO doping reduces grain boundary resistance
- YâOâ additions improve high-temp stability
Design Improvements
- âThermal Via Arraysâ
- 0.3mm vias @ 1mm pitch
- Copper-filled for best performance
- âCopper Thicknessâ
- Standard: 35ÎŒm (1oz)
- Enhanced: 70-210ÎŒm (2-6oz)
- âComponent Layoutâ
- Place hot devices near board edges
- Stagger power components
Process Innovations
- âSurface Finishesâ
- ENIG (Ni/Au) for wire bonding
- Thick copper for power devices
- âInterlayer Bondingâ
- Glass-ceramic adhesives
- Controlled CTE matching
- âQuality Controlâ
- Ultrasonic inspection for voids
- Thermal imaging verification
It is worth mentioning that our team has successfully implemented these methods in power modules, LED arrays, and RF applications.
How to Test the Thermal Conductivity of Alumina Ceramic PCB?
We employ three complementary test methods:
1. Laser Flash Analysis (ASTM E1461)
- Measures thermal diffusivity
- Accuracy: ±3%
- Sample size: 10mm diameter
2. Guarded Hot Plate (ASTM C177)
- Direct heat flux measurement
- Best for thin samples
- Accuracy: ±5%
3. Transient Plane Source
- Fast measurements
- Non-destructive
- Accuracy: ±7%
Typical Test Results:
| Sample | Thickness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|
| Al-96 | 0.5mm | 28.4 W/mK |
| Al-99 | 1.0mm | 36.2 W/mK |
| AlN | 0.6mm | 158 W/mK |
We use ASTM E1461 standard testing for all our ceramic substrates.
Case of supporting alumina ceramic PCB project at EBest Circuit (Best Technology)
âClient Challenge:ââ
A medical laser manufacturer needed to:
- Dissipate 200W/cmÂČ from diode arrays
- Maintain <85°C junction temperature
- Achieve 10,000+ hour lifespan
âOur Solution:ââ
- Material Selection
- 99.5% alumina substrate
- 6oz direct bonded copper
- Thermal Design
- Microchannel cooling structure
- 0.2mm thermal vias @ 0.8mm pitch
- Process Control
- Laser drilling for precise vias
- X-ray inspection for void detection
âResults:ââ
- Achieved 180W/cmÂČ dissipation
- Junction temperature stabilized at 78°C
- Accelerated testing showed >15,000 hour lifespan
What Core competitive edges of EBest Circuit (Best Technology) in ceramic PCBs?
Our 19 years of ceramic PCB experience delivers:
Material Knowledgeâ
- 19 years working with alumina substrates
- Deep understanding of property tradeoffs
Manufacturing Capabilities
- âThickness Range: 0.15-6mm
- âLayer Count: Up to 64 layers
- âLine Width: Down to 50ÎŒm
- âVia Size: From 100ÎŒm
- Handle complex multilayer designs
- Offer both HTCC and LTCC processes
âSupply Chainâ
- Direct relationships with material suppliers
- Consistent quality control
Quality Systems
Technical Support
- Free design for manufacturability review
- Thermal simulation services
- Rapid prototyping (3-5 day turnaround)
Customer Benefits
- 30% faster lead times vs industry average
- 99.7% on-time delivery rate
- 24/7 engineering support
To sum up, alumina ceramic thermal conductivity remains a critical parameter for power electronics. Understanding its temperature dependence, measurement methods, and improvement techniques enables better thermal management.
At EBest Circuit (Best Technology), we combine material science expertise with practical manufacturing experience to optimize alumina PCB performance. Our solutions have helped clients achieve 40-60% thermal resistance reduction, 3-5x power density increases and 2-3x product lifespan extension. For your next high-power PCB project, contact our thermal management specialists at sales@bestpcbs.com. Let’s discuss how we can optimize alumina ceramic performance for your specific application requirements.


























