Understanding High Voltage PCB Materials

If you're designing a high voltage PCB, you'll need materials that can ensure reliability and manufacturability. Tech Consultant Zach Peterson explores high voltage PCB materials specifications, metrics, curing agents, CTI values, and much more.

0:00 Intro
0:40 High Voltage Materials Specifications
2:04 High Voltage Materials Metrics
3:42 Curing Agents and CTI (Comparative Tracking Index)
6:01 Appropriate CTI Values
8:15 CAF (Conductive Anodic Filament) Failure

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[lorito]

Hi, you didn't respond to the question of how to calculate the thickness. I mean, if on the datasheet of the material you have a breakdown voltage of 40kV, and they say the standard with which they calculate them... how can you convert that value to the minimal thickness needed. For example, my manufacturer has this on their website for a high CTI board: Dielectric breakdown IPC-TM-650 2.5.6. 60+kV No Breakdown. Reading the IPC says how the test is made. Two holes with 1inch between them. So 60kV/inch, for a dielectric of 4mils we have a dielectric capable of 240V. So with a derating of 1/3, I should consider no more than 80V between layers.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
Thanks in advance.

[robertbox]

We practically discovered CAF back in the 2000's. We had failures and spent months testing PCBs to see what was going on - there was no documentation on it back then. CAF was happening to us at permanent automobile voltages: 12V!

[sto]

Is it possible you can show different connectors, ideas and many safe ideal methods on how to connect or interface high voltage & amperage wires to PCB boards? Such as what is the best and ideal way to connect/interface a lug eyelet connector to a PCB? Thanks. No info on this for youtube, it is a rare topic. Thanks.

[wtfucrazy]

How do you calculate the thickness needed in the board between diffrent high voltage layers?

[mohamedhossam]

How can i design a 4 layer high current pcb (up to 35A) as i used the regular calculation method and the traces were so large?

[DanBowkley]

How does having more resin make the material better suited for HV? I would've assumed the opposite, given that glass is good for something like 2.5MV/inch while even PTFE is about half that.

[petersage]

400VDC? I can think of only a couple realms where this would be encountered; sounds like Morteza might be working with hollow state thermionic valves. This is tangential to my interest.

[hariharanraja]

Conductive anodic filamentation and tin whiskers are same?

[robertbox]

It's caff as in café by the way. Not C. A. F. !