Hello readers, welcome to the new post. Here we will discuss matte vs. glossy in PCBs. The glossy finish is a shiny solder mask. PCB works well for both matte and glossy finishes. So the selection of anyone is important. In this post, we will discuss the matte and glossy finishes used in the board and their features. So, let’s get started with matte vs. glossy in PCBs.
PCB Finishes
PCB finishes are protective layers on copper traces and pads that protect them from different environmental conditions such as wear, tear, and corrosion.
Matte Finish
In the PCB board manufacturing process, matte finishing is a type of surface finish that makes a dull surface and non-reflective look on the board.
This finish is used in applications where the reflectivity of the board surface can result in interference with the working of devices like imaging devices or optical.
This type of finishing is made by applying chemical treatment to the surface of the board after the copper plating process. This process removes any remaining copper oxides and makes a roughened surface that minimizes the reflection of the board.
As a result, a surface that comes with a flat, non-smooth look is called a “matte” finish.
There are 2 main types of matte finishes used in PCBs:
- Water-based finishes are used on the board and then cured using water. This process is relatively easy and less costly, and it causes a good-quality finish.
- Solvent-based finishes are applied to the board and then cured using a solvent. They take some time to apply, but they make durable products.
Glossy Finish
This type of surface finish generates a reflective and shiny layer on the board during the PCB manufacturing process. It is used in applications where the look of the PCB is important, like consumer electronic devices.
After copper plating is completed, a metallic layer, like silver, gold, or tin, is applied to the board’s surface to achieve a glossy finish.
The metallic layer is polished to make a smooth and reflective look and provides a glossy look on board.
WHAT IS A GLOSSY FINISH IN PCBS?
The glossy finish of the PCB board is a light reflective solder mask, a light color as compared to a matte PCB finish. It comes with a poreless look that reverses the soft appearance of a matte finish.
BENEFITS OF A GLOSS FINISH ON A CIRCUIT BOARD
- It provides a pCB aesthetic and classy look. Many engineers and manufacturers give boards a glossy finish since a shiny look gives the boards a modern appearance.
- It reduces signs and symbols of wear with its less reflective features.
- It has scratch resistance. The glossy finish offers a harder surface to the board, which has a higher rate of resistance to scratch than the matte finish of PCBs.
ADVANTAGES OF A MATTE FINISH ON A PCB
- It provides a visible look during the inspection of the board. The matter board finishes do not have a shine or lightning effect, which provides a visible look in the inspection process. So it provides a clear and visible look at manufacturing and PCBA.
- It offers the easy detection of issues. The matter board finish comes with features to detect errors easily and quickly, then a glossy PCB finish. Due to its visible nature, it makes it easy to find errors.
- It minimizes the creation of solder balls. Many manufacturers refer to that board matte finish that comes with less risk to make solder balls. The less glossy rate makes less formation of solder balls.
WHY CHOOSE A GLOSSY FINISH OVER A MATE FINISH?
The basic difference between a glossy finish and a matte finish is aesthetic, and some people think that a gloss finish has a better look.
The gloss solder mask is shin. It reflects light and shows a bright appearance, and the matte finish is dull and dark.
The gloss solder mask comes with a hard shell finish, and the matte finish is softer.
The matte finish also scratches easily and has surface cosmetics, though scratches on the gloss finish look more
Some main reasons for choosing a glossy finish over a matte finish are
For uses where appearance affects board marketing, glossy finishes can help to increase the look.
If there is no certain finish for you, note that glossy finish works as the default finish used in industries.
Factors to Estimate When Choosing a PCB Finish
Pad Flatness
- Some surface finishes give uneven and rough surfaces. It affects soldering on the board. As flatness is important for the board, choose a finish that is even and thin-layered.
Solderability
- Solderability is also important for the board manufacturing process. Some finishes cause problems for sodering, like ENEPIG and OSP. So use a finish that is best for solderability, such as HASL.
Gold & Aluminum Wire Bonding
- For aluminum or gold wire bonding, use ENEPIG and ENIG finishes.
Storage
- Based on the finish surfaces board becomes durable and sensitive. So for proper feature maintenance, board storage must be considered before using finish.
ROHS Compliance
- RoHS compliance is important for choosing board surface finish. Some surface finishes do not follow the ROHS, so do not use them.
Types of PCB finishes
HASL (Hot Air Solder Leveling)
HASL is the finish type used in the PCB board. PCB board is dipped in molten solder so that all exposed copper surfaces are covered with solder.
Extra solder is removed through the passing board in hot air knives.
HASL can be used with or without lead, but lead-free HAS is according to the instructions of ROHS.
ENIG (Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold):
ENIG, also called immersion gold, chemical Ni/Au, or soft gold, is a metallic process used in manufacturing the board to avoid oxidation and enhance the solderability of copper contacts and plated through holes.
It comes with electroless nickel plating, having a thin layer of gold that protects the nickel from oxidation. Gold is applied with immersion in a solution having gold salts.
Some nickel is oxidized to Ni2+, and gold is reduced to the metallic state.
OSP (Organic Solderability Preservative)
OSP is a technique for coating of board. It uses a water-based organic compound that selectively bonds with copper and protects copper until soldering.
Compounds used are benzotriazoles, imidazoles, and benzimidazoles. They are absorbed on copper surfaces by making coordination bonds with copper atoms and making thick layers with the creation of copper-N-heterocycle complexes.
Tin lead
The tin-lead finish, also called solder paste or solder deposits, is finished having a dull luster that comes with a mottled look. Due to the matte features, deposits are susceptible to rinsing stains and staining from handling.
Why CHOOSE A MATTE FINISH OVER A GLOSSY FINISH
It is not a cost-effective solution to choose a matte finish over a glossy finish, but solder balls are the main cause. If you are thinking about solder balls that can cause issues, you can choose a matte finish. So the main reasons are
- For consideration of manufacturing accuracy at top value, a matte finish is the better option for manufacturing. However, some expert PCB manufacturers must check errors in any finish used.
- If there is a need to inspect the PCB by yourself after manufacturing, a matte finish is best to use. It helps to find errors clearly to offer an accurate result to board manufacturers.
Glossy vs. Matte Finish
Glossy Finish
- Shiny, reflective Surface
- Colors appear brighter and more vibrant.
- Smooth texture
- durable and scratch-resistant
- Reflects light, making the surface appear larger.
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Modern, elegant settings
Matte Finish
- Dull, non-reflective look
- Slightly rough texture
- Colors are muted and subdued.
- It does not reflect light, making the surface appear smaller.
- Less durable and prone to scratches
- difficult to clean and maintain
- Rustic, traditional settings
What is the best finish for PCB?
Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold is a very common and most-used board finish. It is made with two coating layers. ENIG places 2-4 μ” Au over 120-200 μ” Ni.
Read Also:
- What is Ball Grid Array (BGA) on a PCB Board
- Difference between Double sided and Multilayer PCB Board
- Double Sided PCB Board, Construction, Working, Types & Applications
- What is PCB (Printed Circuit Board), Types, Working, Features & Applications
- PCB Heat Dissipation Techniques
faqs
- Which is better, matte finish or glossy?
Glossy finishes are used due to their vibrant and eye-catching look, making them best for promotional material and photographs.
While matte finish provides a classic and good visual narrative, used for art prints and luxury catalogs
- What is the difference between matte and gloss solder masks?
The basic difference is aesthetics. The gloss solder mask is light reflective and lighter in color, while matte does not have a shiny appearance and looks darker. Matte solder mask is also softer, and gloss comes with a hard shell finish.
- What is the difference between a matte and shiny surface?
The basic difference is the contrasting finish from the final prints. The glossy finish comes with an ultra-smooth, shiny look that makes the image color vibrant. Matte paper gives a dull and subtle finish.
- Which is a better matte or glossy bike?
If it is a quality finish, smudges, stains, scratches, cleaning, etc. are not an issue on matte since they are glossy.
Flatting agent in finish works with increasing surface roughness. This surface roughness makes contaminants affect the surface easily. It occurs irrespective of quality.
What are the advantages of a matte finish?
- The main benefit is that fingerprints or scratches are less obvious than glossy finishes. With that color matte finish, cabinets can be resistant, as there is no reflection of light to make some points brighter or darker than others.
What are the advantages of a glossy finish?
- It provides an eye-catching finish and is safe and more durable. Glossy lamination can protect packing from minor scratches and repel dust and dirt.
- Glossy finishes are easy to clean, making famous options for products that stay pristine on store shelves.
What are the disadvantages of gloss paint?
With gloss pain, reflectivity makes colors darker, so check the color before painting. Extra reflection of light can make imperfections, such as notches and bumps in walls, easier to see.
- Is glossy more expensive than matte?
Normally, glossy is more expensive than matte due to the extra coating and the printing process of the glossy finish.
- What is the top mask of a PCB?
The traces on the upper side of the board are called top traces and resulted in a solder mask used called the top side mask. Like the top side mask, the lower mask is used for the bottom side of the board.
- What is the top solder layer in PCB?
A solder mask is a thin lacquer-like layer of polymer that is used to copper traces of PCB board for protection over oxidation and to prevent solder bridges from creating between closely spaced solder pads.
- What are layers in PCB?
The PCB layer is made with signal-transmitting levels that are vertical on the board plane. such as a layer board that comes with top and lower layers and 4 layers PCB has a top, inner1, internal 2, and bottom layers. It is an insulating substrate in the middle of each PCB layer, the FR4.
- What are the matte vs. glossy advantages and disadvantages?
The gloss solder mask comes with a hard shell finish, and the matte is soft. A matte finish can scratch easily and have residue or surface cosmetics good since scratches on a gloss finish will show more.
What is the difference between a glossy and matte finish on metal?
The matte print comes different from glossy or semi-gloss material metal print. Glossy metal prints are fairly highly reflective, and matte prints on metal will not be shiny and come with an imperceptible texture to; semi-gloss is halfway between the other two.
What is the difference between matte and polished metal?
Polished stainless steel is a shiny, reflective surface that is made with a grinding wheel to buff out any imperfections. Brushed stainless steel is a dull matte finish made by abrading the surface of the metal with a brush.
What are the disadvantages of a matte finish?
- It is a less reflective surface.
- Not easy to clean
- Less vibrant feature
- Affected due to fingerprints
What are the disadvantages of matte paint?
- Less durable for scuffs and not easy to wash
- Less moisture-resistant, so not used in the kitchen or bathroom.
- It soaks up the light, so it can make small rooms look smaller.
What type of finish is matte?
- The matte finish has a lower gloss and shine than flat paint and is less shiny than satin or eggshell.
- It comes with a lower gloss percentage, which means it comes with less luster.
What is glossy used for?
- The glossy finish increases the color in the photo, making a more vibrant image. The shiny surface works well on print files with heavy color coverage, in photographs, and in big graphics.
- It makes the color on photo prints have a higher contrast.
Why use glossy paint?
- The glossy paint finish is easier to scrub and clean than other paint finishes.
- With that, it is resistant to moisture and humidity, which makes it best for kitchens and bathrooms.
What is glossy paint used for?
Gloss paint is the most commonly used for painting woodwork. These are doors, frames, skirting, and windows.
The latest gloss paints are water-based, with less VOC content, and offer the benefits of hardwearing paint without the disadvantage of yellowing with time.
What are the pros and cons of matte paint?
The use of matte paints covers the defects of surfaces and is less washable than gloss paint, so when used in the bathroom and kitchen
Blemishes are noticeable on cars with a matte finish. Scratches are not easy to remove since restoration through polishing or wet sanding is ineffective.
Why is gloss paint more durable?
- High gloss, more light-reflective paint, more reflective paint, and high durability.
Is gloss paint moisture-resistant?
- Paint with a glossy finish is moisture resistant since, when cured, satin gloss finishes make a hard coating that restricts water, helping to drip the floor rather than seep into the drywall or wood.
What are 2 layers in a PCB?
- The 2-layer board comes with 2 copper layers and is also called a double-sided PCB. As it is two-sided, it offers mechanical support and can connect on both sides. These boards come with two copper layers having a substrate material.
What are the three layers of PCB?
- Substrate Layer.
- Copper Layer.
- Soldermask layer.
- Silkscreen layer.
What is a dry joint in PCB?
- The dry solder joining is a soldering defect that exists when soldering is not accurately wet or follows the component leads and PCB pads. It makes weak and unreliable electrical connections.
Is matte cheaper than glossy?
- Matte paint has lower prices than glossy paint.
