勛圖tv 繚 ENGINEERING GUIDE
Isola P96/P26 PCB: Polyimide Core and Prepreg Review
Isola P96/P26 names two forms of a polyimide system: P96 is the core material and P26 is the prepreg. This distinction matters when specifying a multilayer PCB for elevated thermal exposure. A drawing that lists the pair without assigning it to layers leaves the bonding construction unresolved.
This page focuses on the P96/P26 combination, its flame-rating context and the thermal questions that remain after choosing polyimide. The Isola material range is the starting point for a broader comparison.
Identify the polyimide system without simplifying its chemistry
Isola describes P96/P26 as a flame-resistant polyimide and thermoplastic blend, cured without MDA. The product data gives typical DSC Tg of 260簞C, Td of 396簞C at 5% mass loss, and UL V-0 context. These are material-level statements, not a 勛圖tv facility qualification or a finished-equipment approval.
Do not replace this description with a claim that all polyimides are identical pure-resin systems. The exact chemistry, reinforcement and process affect the construction. Likewise, a high Tg does not mean a populated board can operate continuously at that temperature.
Evidence and construction decision
| Item | Source or model boundary | Action for the design review |
|---|---|---|
| Pairing | P96 core / P26 prepreg | Name each supplied form. |
| Chemistry | Polyimide and thermoplastic blend | Do not label as pure polyimide. |
| Tg / Td | 260簞C DSC / 396簞C typical | Material characterization, not board qualification. |
Separate core thickness from the P26 bonding interval
P96 enters the layup as a cured core; P26 contributes to the pressed bondline. Specify both the supplied materials and the intended finished dielectric separations. Copper distribution and local clearance regions affect the relationship between prepreg selection and final thickness.
This is different from a P25N no-flow bond. Substituting a controlled-flow product for a conventional bonding interval can change filling behavior, while substituting flowing prepreg at a cavity can create unwanted intrusion. The letters and digits need to remain in the layer-by-layer stackup, not only in a general note.
| Review item | What to establish |
|---|---|
| Layer assignment | P96 cores and P26 prepreg identified separately. |
| Flame context | Material V-0 does not qualify the equipment. |
| Thermal history | Include conditioning, assembly and rework. |
| Model limit | No operating-temperature or via-life approval. |
Piecewise free thickness expansion
Piecewise free thickness expansion
Use the current inputs and keep the assumptions
Start with the example only to inspect the units and the calculation boundary. Replace every assumption with a value tied to your own document or measurement. An empty numeric field is not zero. The review-reference field is a local label; avoid entering customer names, confidential part numbers or other private information into a public worksheet.
After calculating, read the notes alongside the numerical result. Changing any input invalidates the displayed result and disables its download until you calculate again. For a comparison, keep the units, geometry, material condition and measurement boundary consistent. A long decimal result does not imply equally precise input data. The downloadable record stays on your device and can be attached manually to an inquiry. It is not automatically transferred into the Contact form.
If an input is unknown, identify the person or document needed to resolve it. Do not fill a gap with a favorable generic value simply to obtain a result. You can request a material or fabrication review without using the tool. The arithmetic illustrates a relationship; it does not accept a construction, certify a material, establish current pricing or replace a supplier process specification.
| Input | What to establish before using it |
|---|---|
| Review reference | Nonconfidential revision label. |
| Initial dielectric thickness 繚 mm | Unconstrained specimen approximation. |
| Start temperature 繚 簞C | Must be less than final temperature. |
| End temperature 繚 簞C | Heating illustration only; not an approved exposure. |
| Assumed transition temperature 繚 簞C | Simplified sharp transition; use a defined measurement method. |
| CTE below transition 繚 ppm/簞C | Direction-specific value over the relevant interval. |
| CTE above transition 繚 ppm/簞C | Direction-specific value, not copied from in-plane CTE. |
Optional cost comparison from your own allowances
Use a quotation or a clearly labeled internal assumption for each input. Keep the quantity, construction and inspection scope the same when comparing alternatives. This uncalibrated planning model adds entered values; it contains no current market rates and does not issue a 勛圖tv quotation. You can contact the team without completing it.
Optional project allowance comparison
Plan moisture and thermal exposure as a sequence
Record storage, conditioning, lamination, surface finishing, assembly and any planned rework. The finished board experiences the sequence, not just its hottest moment. Thin and thick constructions may require different evidence even when they share the same resin system.
The supplier processing guide is a starting point for the responsible manufacturing team. Avoid copying an arbitrary drying instruction from epoxy or another polyimide. A material certificate does not document how a particular board was handled after receipt, so include that responsibility in the build review.
Explain what a thickness-expansion result can answer
The worksheet estimates unconstrained thickness change from entered coefficients and a temperature interval. It can show why a higher transition temperature changes the partition between the two modeled slopes. It does not represent the complete viscoelastic response, copper constraint or damage accumulated in a plated hole.
The loaded example is a generic arithmetic check, not P96/P26 data. Replace it only with method-qualified values appropriate to the construction. If a coefficient is unavailable over the required interval, keep the result as an assumption and do not turn it into a reliability claim.
Compare flame requirements and process requirements independently
Arlon 35N and Arlon 33N provide useful comparisons because their documented flame-rating contexts differ. Matching a Tg headline cannot establish equivalent flame behavior, bonding response or approval under a controlled program.
For purchasing, state whether P96/P26 is mandatory and who can authorize an alternative. Compare the full build and evidence package, including qualification effort. The allowance tool can organize user-supplied figures, but it contains no polyimide market price and cannot establish supplier availability.
Ask for a construction-specific manufacturing response
Send the layer stack, copper distribution, hole sizes, board thickness, required flame context and expected thermal history. Add impedance requirements where relevant, along with the documentation and inspection needed for the order. A short list of unresolved design questions is more useful than an unsupported maximum-temperature claim.
The response should state the proposed core and prepreg, important process assumptions, deviations and evidence. Preserve that approved configuration for repeat builds. A polyimide material selection is one engineering input; the completed PCB and assembly still require the acceptance defined by the customer.
Close the material and construction decision together
The finished board combines a dielectric, copper patterns, holes, surface coatings and a manufacturing history. Its behavior cannot be inferred from a family name alone. State the supplied grade, reinforcement, thickness, copper and processing conditions that matter to the intended application.
Keep handling and assembly requirements with the fabrication drawing. A thin panel, punched outline or unusual support condition can change the production route even when the electrical circuit is simple. Ask the fabricator to review the actual features and panel format rather than assuming a dimensional example represents a production capability.
For cost comparison, hold the drawing, quantity, test scope and acceptance requirements constant. Record one-time tooling separately from recurring work, and distinguish raw material utilization from accepted-board yield. Any calculator on this page uses supplied assumptions; an actual quotation requires the files and an agreed scope.
A source-qualified table should be read alongside the exclusions and footnotes, not separated from them. If the supplier limits an application, identify whether that limitation affects the current design before requesting a price. A familiar family classification does not override an explicit restriction, and a positive calculator result cannot remove it.
For a repeat build, compare the newly proposed supply with the previously approved material record. Exact grade, manufacturing site where relevant, foil treatment, reinforcement and dimensional basis can matter. Define which changes require notification and which need technical approval. This avoids turning a purchasing substitution into an unnoticed design change.
Receiving records should support the agreed identity and traceability requirement. A certificate for a raw material, a finished-board inspection report and an assembly test result cover different boundaries. Request the records that actually answer the project questions rather than collecting unrelated certificates.
When a source contains conflicting values, keep the discrepancy visible until a controlled revision or written supplier response resolves it. Do not create a new table by combining the most favorable entries from several sources. The released drawing, material list and quotation should all describe the same accepted construction.
Standards, source context and limits
Use the edition, amendment and material-document revision named in the purchase agreement. A standards title, marketing label or supplier product family does not establish that a particular lot meets a requirement. Public summaries are useful for scope; the controlled specification and applicable test method govern acceptance.
The examples on this page are illustrative engineering scenarios. They are not 勛圖tv production records or guaranteed material values. Source links identify the organizations responsible for the referenced information. Confirm applicability to the exact grade, construction and test condition before carrying a number into a drawing or qualification report. Sources were reviewed on 3 October 2026. A public catalog search is not proof that an unlisted product never existed. Where the exact designation or current technical sheet could not be verified, this page provides a clarification workflow rather than an invented material specification. Current supply, construction availability and qualification remain separate questions.
