PCB Material Selection: FR-4, Aluminum, or Polyimide?
2026-06-04
Choosing the right PCB material affects performance, cost, and reliability.
Here are the 3 most common materials and when to use each.
Material Comparison
Material Best For Thermal Conductivity Cost
FR-4 (Standard) General purpose, consumer electronics Low (0.3–0.4 W/m·K) Low
FR-4 (High Tg) Automotive, industrial, high-temp environments Low-Medium (0.5–0.7 W/m·K) Medium
Aluminum (IMS) High-power LEDs, motor drives, power supplies High (1–3 W/m·K) Medium-High
Polyimide Aerospace, medical, flexible circuits Medium (0.3–0.5 W/m·K) High
FR-4 (Standard) General purpose, consumer electronics Low (0.3–0.4 W/m·K) Low
FR-4 (High Tg) Automotive, industrial, high-temp environments Low-Medium (0.5–0.7 W/m·K) Medium
Aluminum (IMS) High-power LEDs, motor drives, power supplies High (1–3 W/m·K) Medium-High
Polyimide Aerospace, medical, flexible circuits Medium (0.3–0.5 W/m·K) High
Quick Selection Guide
Your Application Recommended Material
Consumer electronics, IoT FR-4 standard
Automotive, industrial control FR-4 High Tg
High-power LED lighting Aluminum IMS
Flexible or high-reliability Polyimide
Consumer electronics, IoT FR-4 standard
Automotive, industrial control FR-4 High Tg
High-power LED lighting Aluminum IMS
Flexible or high-reliability Polyimide
What STG Electronic Stocks
- FR-4 standard – In stock, 1–8 layers
- FR-4 High Tg (170°C+) – In stock, 2–8 layers
- Aluminum IMS – Available, single-layer only
- Polyimide – Available on request, 2–6 layers
Common Mistake
Using standard FR-4 for high-temperature environments.
Result: Board warps, vias crack, components fail early.
Need Help Choosing?
Send your application + layer count + operating temperature → 24hr material recommendation + quote
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