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Substrate Right-Sizer: FR-4 vs MCPCB vs Ceramic
Most automotive boards do not need ceramic. Answer four questions to see the substrate that fits your thermal and mechanical load — without over-paying.
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Decision logic from published material data: ceramic when temp > 150 °C, power density > 5 W/cm², or bare-die CTE matching is required (FR-4 13–15 vs ceramic 4.5–7.5 vs silicon 2.6 ppm/°C); MCPCB for LED heat-sinking; high-Tg FR-4 for ~90% of automotive designs. Ceramic is brittle — FR-4 absorbs vibration better. Always confirm with thermal simulation.
