FR-4 is not Halogen free - that is, when igniting in an enclosed space it can potentially cause poisonous fumes.

A number of companies are working on Halogen free versions of FR-4 laminate. G-10/FR-4 Epoxy G-10/FR-4 is a thermosetting industrial laminate consisting of a continuous filament glass cloth material with an epoxy resin binder. This product, first introduced in the 1950's, has characteristics of high strength, excellent electrical properties and chemical resistance. These properties are maintained not only at room temperature but also under humid or moist conditions. Today what is called G-10 is actually FR-4, the flame retardant version of G-10. The material FR-4 can usually be used where G-10 is specified, however G-10 should not be used where FR4 is specified. Both G-10 and FR-4 are rated at 285 degree F continuous operating temperature. Because they are thermosets, no melting will occur with these grades, however charring will be observed after extended periods above the temperature rating. FR-4 has a flammability rating of 94 V-0. With these outstanding characteristics, it is easy to understand why G-10/FR-4 is such a versatile material and is used in a wide variety of applications. Properties High dielectric strength Radiation resistant High tensile strength Low cold flow or creep Chemically resistant High flexural strength Dimensional stability Low moisture absorption Low dissipation factor High impact strength Cryogenic serviceability

Applications Electrical equipment Aerospace conditions Rocket cases Antenna insulators Test boards End plates Cryogenic insulation Solder Frames Test fixtures Medical diagnostic Circuit board holders Terminal boards Underwater conditions

Availabilities Rod: .062" to 4.500" Sheet: .005" to 3.000" Tubing: .187" I.D. to 6.00" I.D., wall thickness, 0.62" to 1.50" Standard Color: Green. Special order, black, red, blue, yellow, with minimum ordering quantities. UL 94, the Standard for Safety of Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances testing There are two types of pre-selection test programs conducted on plastic materials to measure flammability characteristics. The first determines the material's tendency either to extinguish or to spread the flame once the specimen has been ignited. The first program is described in UL 94 which is now harmonized with IEC 60707, 60695-11-10 and 60695-11-20 and ISO 9772 and 9773. The second test program measures the ignition resistance of the plastic to electrical ignition sources. The material's resistance to ignition and surface tracking characteristics is described in UL 746A, which is similar to the test procedures described in IEC 60112, 60695 and 60950. UL 94 flame classifications There are 12 flame classifications specified in UL 94 that are assigned to materials based on the results of these small-scale flame tests. These classifications listed in descending order for each of the following three groupings are used to distinguish a material's burning characteristics after test specimens have been exposed to a specified test flame under controlled laboratory conditions.
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Six of the classifications relate to materials commonly used in manufacturing enclosures, structural parts and insulators found in consumer electronic products (5VA, 5VB, V-0, V1, V-2, HB). Three of the remaining six classifications relate to low-density foam materials commonly used in fabricating speaker grills and sound-deadening material (HF-1, HF-2, HBF).

The last three classifications are assigned to very thin films, generally not capable of supporting themselves in a horizontal position (VTM-0, VTM-1, VTM-2). These are usually assigned to substrates on flexible printed circuit boards.

Horizontal versus vertical positioning Specimens molded from the plastic material are oriented in either a horizontal or vertical position depending on the specifications of the relevant test method, and they are subjected to a defined flame ignition source for a specified period of time. In some tests, the test flame is only applied once as is the case of the horizontal burning (HB) test, while in other tests the flame is applied at least twice. An HB flame rating indicates that the material was tested in a horizontal position and found to burn at a rate less than a specified maximum. The three vertical ratings, V2, V1 and V0 indicate that the material was tested in a vertical position and self-extinguished within a specified time after the ignition source was removed. The vertical ratings also indicate whether the test specimen dripped flaming particles that ignited a cotton indicator located below the sample. UL 94 also describes a method in which the test flame is applied for up to five applications in testing for a 5VA or 5VB classification. These smallscale tests measure the propensity of a material to extinguish or spread flames once it becomes ignited. Difference in test methods and criteria When looking at the flame ratings for plastic materials commonly molded to fabricate enclosures, structural parts and insulators found in consumer electronic products (5VA, 5VB, V0, V-1, V-2 and HB), a material classified as 5VA or 5VB is subjected to a flame ignition source that is approximately five times more severe than that used in the V-0, V-1, V-2 and HB tests. Also, the specimens may not drip any flaming particles. The three remaining six classifications specified in UL 94 relate to low-density foam materials commonly used in fabricating speaker grills and sound-deadening material (HF-1, HF-2, HBF). The remaining three classifications are assigned to very thin films commonly used in flexible printed wiring boards, generally not capable of supporting themselves in a horizontal position (VTM-0, VTM-1, VTM-2). A flame rating of VTM-0 cannot be considered equivalent to a V-0 rating as the test methods are quite different. Likewise, VTM-1 and VTM-2 cannot be considered equivalent to V-1 and V-2 respectively. UL 746A ignition tests In addition to flammability considerations, a material's ability to resist ignition from electrical sources is another important factor that must be considered in the selection and evaluation of a material for use in electrical equipment. Possible electrical ignition sources in equipment are: overloaded (overheated) electrical conductors and components; arcing parts, such as the open contacts of switches and relays; and arcing at broken or loose connections, e.g., splices or

terminals. Polymeric materials in direct contact with or in close proximity to overloaded or arcing electrical parts could ignite. The three basic tests used to evaluate a material's ability to resist ignition are the hot-wire ignition (HWI), high-current (or high-amp) arc ignition (HAI), and high-voltage arc tracking rate (HVTR). Details of the test criteria can be found in UL 746A, the Standard for Safety of Polymeric Materials -- Short-Term Evaluations. The recognized component directory tabulates the results of the small-scale tests conducted on the materials. The HWI test indicates a material's resistance to ignition when exposed to abnormally high temperatures resulting from a component failure such as a conductor carrying far more than its rated current. HWI performance is expressed as the mean number of seconds required to ignite a specimen when wrapped with an energized non-chrome resistive wire that dissipates a specified level of energy. The HAI test determines the material's ability to withstand electrical arcing either directly on or just above the surface of the plastic material. This can occur in the presence of open switch contacts or in the event of the failure of an electrical connection. HAI performance is expressed as the number of arc rupture exposures -- using standardized electrode materials, geometry and electrical supply circuit -- required to ignite a specimen when the arc occurs directly on the surface or a specified distance above the test specimen. The HVTR for a material is expressed as the rate (in inches per minute) that a tracking path can be produced on the surface of the material under standardized test conditions. This test relates to establishment of an electrically conductive path on the surface of a solid, insulated material as a result of electrical stress. Another ignition test can be applied to measure a material's resistance to ignition property. This test is the glow-wire ignitability test and is also described in UL 746A and 746C, the Standard for Safety of Polymeric Materials -- Use in Electrical Equipment Evaluations. The method is based on a test procedure that is documented in IEC 60695 and specified in numerous IEC endproduct specifications including IEC 60335-1. The test is somewhat similar to the HWI test in that it measures a material's resistance to ignition on application of a heated non-flaming source. FR-4 PCB Laminate = Flame Retardant FR-4 PCB Laminate is the most commonly used base material for printed circuit boards. The "FR" means Flame Retardant (to UL94V-0), and Type "4" indicates woven glass reinforced epoxy resin.

Flame Retardant 4-: The belonging property of cables to hold up or slow the progress of flame and fire along the

cable wire. This is achieved through the use of non-flammable materials i.e. woven glass fiber material that do not readily burn and will tend to quench. It is impregnated with epoxy resin

FR-4 Woven E-glass Fabric Epoxy,Flame Resistant Copper Clad Laminate Character Application It's widely used in computer, electric exchange machine, mobile phone, periphery products of computer, office automatic equipment, Natural It's normal epoxy resin glass cloth copper automatic equipment, instrument & electric products for aviation, and some senior color clad laminates. household electric machine, Excellent quality stability. It can fulfill the requirement of SMT and sealed package substrate. It's widely used in the optics equipment & instrument, camera, digital display, lattice It's modify-epoxy, glass cloth board. It has display, LED display, the basic board making UV-Block & visible light-Block function, for the huge screen display implement, and and suitable for making PCB board that some other special electric parts & electric used for the exposure of double board. Also insulated structure parts. The product equips its a kind of good solvent-resistance high stability for quality & high unknitibility. material, when placed in the ultrasonicTechnical superiority: our company making cleaning, it will never discolored, never the 0.1 mm basic board with top-ranking pollute the PCB. technical level, which can totally block the visible light. And our company is famous for the technology. It's modify-epoxy, glass cloth board. It has UV-Block & visible light-Block function, and suitable for making PCB board that used for the exposure of double board. Best white color, good glistening for the visible light. it's widely used in digital display, lattice display, LED display, huge screen display implement, electric guide, the basic board for the electric scutcheon and some other special electric parts & electric insulated structure parts.

Black color

White color

Circuit boards are commonly found in electronics in consumer and industrial products, including computers and cell phones. Manufacturers commonly produce circuit boards with flameretardant chemicals to help ensure fire safety. Some flame-retardant chemicals, however, can be harmful if released into the environment. To better understand the issue, the electronics industry is engaging with other stakeholders in a partnership with Design for the Environment to better understand the full range of options for flame retarding circuit boards.

The melting point of copper is 1083.4 degrees Centigrade. Liquid copper boils at 2567 degrees Centigrade. Copper is resistant to corrosion, that is, it will not rust. If the air around it often is damp, it will change from its usual reddish orange color to reddish-brown. Eventually, it is coated with a green film called a "patina" that stops all further corrosion.

Some metals are better conductors of electricity than others. Silver, copper, gold, and aluminum are materials with many free electrons and make good conductors. Silver is the best conductor, followed by copper, gold, and aluminum. Copper is used more often than silver because of cost. Aluminum is used where weight is a major consideration, such as in high-tension power lines, with long spans between supports. Gold is used where oxidation or corrosion is a consideration and a good conductivity is required. The ability of a conductor to handle current also depends upon its physical dimensions. Conductors are usually found in the form of wire, but may be in the form of bars, tubes, or sheets. Nonconductors have few free electrons. These materials are called INSULATORS. Some examples of these materials are rubber, plastic, enamel, glass, dry wood, and mica. Just as there is no perfect conductor, neither is there a perfect insulator. Some materials are neither good conductors nor good insulators, since their electrical characteristics fall between those of conductors and insulators. These in-between materials are classified as SEMICONDUCTORS. Germanium and silicon are two common semiconductors used in solid-state devices.