Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) is one of the most important properties of all plastic and epoxy resin materials. In fact, the Tg value is also an indicator of the quality of the fiberglass fabric used in PCB manufacturing. However, compared to Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT), Tg is generally considered less critical. Tg typically refers to the temperature at which the molecular chains of a plastic begin to undergo large-scale motion at the microscopic level.
CTE (Coefficient of Thermal Expansion) refers to how a material’s geometric properties change as its temperature rises or falls due to thermal expansion and contraction. In practical applications, CTE is divided into two main categories:
The Popcorn Effect in PCB and electronic components refers to the delamination (board cracking) or formation of bubbles when exposed to high temperatures during soldering. This phenomenon is similar to how popcorn pops—it happens because of trapped moisture inside. When heated, the internal moisture turns into steam, and as the temperature increases, the pressure from the steam rises. If this pressure exceeds the bonding strength of the component, PCB, or IC package, it causes a sudden expansion—just like a kernel turning into fluffy popcorn.
In discussions about printed circuit boards (PCBs), you’ll often hear the term Solder Mask (S/M). But what exactly is a solder mask, and what role does it play in a PCB? Some also refer to it as solder resist.
As the name suggests, a solder mask is used to prevent solder from accidentally adhering to areas that shouldn’t be soldered during assembly. The color you see on a PCB is actually the printed solder mask layer, not the natural color of the PCB material.
The main reasons for PCB delamination or “popcorning” are primarily (1) moisture absorption and (2) excessive α2/Z-axis CTE (Coefficient of Thermal Expansion). Among these, moisture absorption is responsible for about 70% of delamination issues. Other factors, such as uneven thermal expansion, inconsistent cooling and heating, mechanical damage during processing, or poor oxidation treatment, can also contribute—but their impact is generally much lower.
