Reading Time: 4 minutes

By 2025, it is projected that the global market for partially autonomous and fully autonomous vehicles (AVs) will be $36 billion and $6 billion, respectively. These self-driving cars rely on sophisticated computer systems, sensors and other technology to safely navigate the road.

As the transportation industry brings AVs to commercial sales, fluoropolymer compounds will serve as ideal circuit board materials for high-speed and high-frequency laminates used in printed circuit board (PCB) construction. In particular, Fluon+ perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA) EA-2000 adhesives offer a premium option as a PCB coating to ensure the required data processing speeds.

Improving Detection Speed in Autonomous Emergencies

Rather than relying on engine transmissions, AVs depend on power electronics to acquire the necessary information to make adjustments and stay on course without human intervention. For example, AVs rely on data collected from sensors on the surrounding environment for decision-making. The AVs also are connected to 5G networks to send and receive operating instructions and other data.

If connections are not laminated with the proper materials and adhesive resins, they can slow the vehicle’s real-time decision-making. Communication problems can have catastrophic consequences when they impact operations like stopping time or blind spot detection.

Using Fluon+™ PFA EA-2000 fluorinated resins to coat copper clad laminates (CCL) in PCBs helps to prevent communication slowdowns and ensure faster inter-car communication speeds. When applied as a PCB coating, Fluon+ PFA EA-2000 can reduce transmission losses at 28 GHz by more than 30% compared to existing materials.

Composition and Performance Advantages of Fluon+ PFA EA-2000 Compounds

Fluon+ PFA EA-2000 is a modified fluoropolymer for 5G-compatible PCBs that are used in higher frequency bands. Its chemistry preserves the outstanding characteristics of fluorinated resins including thermal resistance and electrical properties. However, the material adds superior adhesion, which enhances the processing capabilities and reliability of high-speed PCBs intended for use in commercial millimeter wave and RF applications. In addition, Fluon+ EA-2000 makes it possible to enhance the electrical characteristics of materials by being overlayed or dispersed on other materials.

Fluon+ PFA EA-2000 enhances electrical characteristics and exhibits superior performance over conventional PFA, PTFE, polyimide and epoxy materials in many AV applications. Key benefits of Fluon+ PFA EA-2000 compounds include:

  • Superior electrical performance, with the lowest dielectric constant (2.0) and low dissipation factor (0.001) compared to liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polyimide and epoxy. These properties make Fluon+PFA EA-2000 resins an outstanding material for electrical insulation, raising the reliability of electronics

  • Stable dielectric constant with varying temperature and frequencies.
  • Enhanced adhesion to CCL, maintaining signal integrity while reducing transmission loss more effectively than PTFE. Minimizes loss and delay for high-frequency applications due to the skin effect
  • Low thermal expansion, ensuring dimensional stability in laminates.
  • Improved performance when used as an additive with lower-grade materials.
  • High chemical resistance, acting as an excellent insulator in nearly all chemical environments.
  • Very low moisture uptake (0.03%)

Other Characteristics of Fluon+PFA EA-2000 resins

In addition to characteristics important to its use with CCL, these adhesive resins feature:

  • Superior heat resistance and excellent sustained mechanical strength from 200 °C to 260 °C.
  • Excellent non-combustibility, with an oxygen index value of more than 95.
  • Excellent surface characteristics including non-stick and low frictional properties and water and oil repellency.
  • Low smoke and flame properties.

Processing Benefits

Fluon+ PFA EA-2000 enables one-step processing with other polymers and metals and can eliminates the need for surface treatment or a separate adhesive layer. It can be laminated onto PCBs using both regular FR-4 compatible processing conditions and high-temperature PTFE conditions.

Offering a level of compatibility unattainable by fluoropolymers, Fluon+ PFA EA-2000 can adhere to different materials including glass cloth, polyimide and various metals and

Available as a film or liquid dispersion, Fluon+ PFA EA-2000 can be compounded with other materials for many CCL, flexible copper clad laminate (FCCL) and resin coated copper (RCC) applications.

Other Applications

Besides their use as PCB coatings in automotive applications, Fluon+ EA-2000 resins are also suitable for both flexible and rigid CCL in PCBs for smartphones, mobile devices, base stations and servers. They can be used in 5G telecommunication systems for power amplifiers and antennas and other mm Wave applications.

In addition to its use as a PCB material, it can be used as a material for coatings and linings. Applications include:

  • Rigid or flexible printed circuit boards
  • Heat-resistant insulating tape and laminated tubing
  • Interposers
  • Steel plate laminates
  • Pump coatings
  • Corrosions-resistant coatings (centrifuges, vessels, reactors)

Learn More about Adhesive Resins

AGC offers a lineup of ETFE, PTFE and PFA products under the Fluon brand that address different customer requirements. The Fluon+ brand delivers enhanced values and performance that cater to the growing sophistication of industrial technologies such as the automotive sector. EA-2000 is a product within the Fluon+ ADHESIVE group that is used in applications requiring strong adhesion to plastics and metals.

Click here to learn more about Fluon+ PFA EA-2000 and how it can serve as a PCB coating in autonomous cars and other next-generation technologies.

AGC Chemicals