Laminates Lay the Foundation

Printed circuit boards, at first glance, seem like simple rectangles imprinted with intricate copper designs. But there are many variables involved with creating PCBs: the soldermask, the silk screen, the copper weight and width. However, the underlying foundation, the laminate, is sometimes glossed over. There are many different types of laminates and selecting the right one is critical. Much as a house of extremely high quality can be destroyed by a shaky foundation, a well-designed circuit can be ruined in either its performance or robustness by an inappropriate laminate.