Insulating Circuit Board Bonding with Curved Pressing Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for manufacturing power module substrate boards face challenges in uniformly applying load during solid phase diffusion bonding, leading to bonding defects at the inner edge parts of copper layers, particularly where the circuit layers are separated by gaps.

Innovation Solution

The method involves forming convex curved surfaces on support boards that contact the copper boards, ensuring even load distribution by using carbon material sheets with a curvature radius between 8000 mm and 60000 mm, facilitating uniform bonding through solid phase diffusion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If pressing boards with guide posts are used for solid phase diffusion bonding, then the bonding process can be performed with a simple structure, but the load distribution becomes uneven causing bonding defects at inner edge parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding device structureVSAvoidbonding uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing board is designed with a convex curved surface instead of a flat surface. This curvature allows the pressing board to contact multiple copper boards simultaneously, distributing the load evenly across the bonding surface including inner edge parts that were previously insufficiently pressed. The curved surface geometry transforms the point contact into area contact, ensuring uniform intermetallic compound layer formation throughout the bonding region.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Device complexity

If guide posts are positioned outside the ceramic substrate board, then the pressing structure remains simple, but sufficient load cannot be applied to inner edge parts of copper layers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressing structureVSAvoidbonding strength at inner edges
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The convex curved surface of the pressing board enables it to span across the ceramic substrate board and contact copper boards at inner edge parts. This geometric modification allows the pressing force to be distributed to previously inaccessible regions without adding complex positioning mechanisms or guide posts inside the substrate area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of manufacture

If flat pressing boards are used, then the bonding device is simple to manufacture, but bonding defects occur due to insufficient load on inner edge parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressing board fabricationVSAvoidbonding quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The convex curved surface can be manufactured using conventional forming processes such as CNC machining, molding, or grinding. While slightly more complex than a flat surface, the manufacturing process remains straightforward and does not require advanced fabrication techniques. The curvature radius can be optimized to balance manufacturing ease with bonding performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach prevents bonding defects by ensuring a sufficient thickness of intermetallic compound layers at the edge parts, maintaining a uniform load across the copper circuit layers, thereby enhancing the bonding quality.

Implementation Method 1

pressing the laminate in a lamination direction by moving the support boards to a facing direction and heating in this pressing state, so as to bond the copper boards on the aluminum circuit layers by solid phase diffusion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolid phase diffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

heating in this pressing state, so as to bond the copper boards on the aluminum circuit layers by solid phase diffusion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3780087B1Method of manufacturing bonded body for insulating circuit board, and bonded body for insulating circuit board
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORP
  • EP3780087B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3780087B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3A
  • EP3780087B1 patent drawingFigure 3B~3D

AI summary

Steps of forming aluminum circuit layers forming an aluminum circuit layers on one surface of a ceramic substrate and forming copper circuit layers are included; the copper circuit layers are formed by laminating copper boards for the circuit layers on the respective aluminum circuit layers, arranging the laminate between a pair of support boards having a convex curved surface at least on one surface so as to face to each other, moving the support boards in a facing direction to press the laminate in a lamination direction, and heating in this pressing state so that the copper boards for the circuit layers are bonded on the aluminum circuit layers respectively by solid phase diffusion; and in the step of forming the copper circuit layers, the support boards are arranged so that either one of the convex curved surface is in contact with the adjacent copper boards for the circuit layers in the laminate.