Copper-Alloy Wiring Board Microstructure for Strength and Conductivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional copper alloy-based metal support substrates in wiring circuit boards lack sufficient conductivity for signal transmission and mechanical strength, necessitating improvements in both properties.

Innovation Solution

A wiring circuit board design incorporating a copper alloy with a sea-island and lamellar structure, where the copper alloy contains copper and a second metal like titanium, formed through a heating process at 400°C or less, ensuring both excellent mechanical strength and conductivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a copper alloy-based spring material is used for the metal support substrate, then mechanical strength is improved, but conductivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidconductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by creating a non-uniform microstructure within the copper alloy where different regions have different properties. The sea-island structure consists of a copper-rich sea phase providing conductivity and an alloy-rich island phase providing strength, while the lamellar structure alternates between soft and hard layers. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of high conductivity in copper-rich regions and high strength in alloy-rich regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention effectively creates a composite material system within the copper alloy by forming a sea-island structure where copper-rich phases and alloy-rich phases coexist. The copper-rich sea phase acts as the matrix providing electrical conductivity, while the alloy-rich island phases dispersed within serve as reinforcement providing mechanical strength. This internal composite structure resolves the contradiction between conductivity and strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If a copper alloy is used for wiring instead of pure copper, then mechanical strength is improved, but conductivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidconductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conductor layer containing copper alloy applies local quality by creating copper-rich regions that provide high conductivity and alloy-rich regions that provide mechanical strength. The sea-island structure ensures that copper-rich sea phases form continuous conductive pathways while alloy-rich island phases are dispersed to provide reinforcement without significantly impeding electrical flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The copper alloy conductor layer functions as a composite material with copper-rich phases providing electrical conductivity and alloy-rich phases providing mechanical strength. This internal composite structure allows the wiring to simultaneously achieve both high conductivity for signal transmission and high strength for mechanical durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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

The copper alloy with a sea-island and lamellar structure achieves both enhanced mechanical strength and conductivity, making it suitable for applications requiring robust electrical signal transmission.

Implementation Method 1

the copper alloy has: a sea-island structure including a sea portion having a continuous shape, and an island portion having a discontinuous shape

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase separation:

Implementation Method 2

the copper alloy has: a lamellar structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase separation:

Implementation Method 3

a step of heating the metal support substrate and/or the conductor layer, wherein a heating temperature in the heating is 400° C. or less

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat treatment: Heat Treatment

Data Source

PatentUS20260068045A1Wiring circuit board and method of producing the wiring circuit board
Publication Date: 2026.03.05 NITTO DENKO CORP
  • US20260068045A1 patent drawing
  • US20260068045A1 patent drawing
  • US20260068045A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A wiring circuit board has a metal support substrate, a base insulating layer disposed on a one-side surface of the metal support substrate in a thickness direction, and a conductor layer disposed on a one-side surface of the base insulating layer in the thickness direction. The metal support substrate and/or the conductor layer contain(s) a copper alloy, and the copper alloy contains a first metal consisting of copper and a second metal that can be alloyed with copper. In the metal support substrate and/or the conductor layer, the copper alloy has a sea-island structure including a sea portion having a continuous shape and an island portion having a discontinuous shape, and also has a lamellar structure.