Differences

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--- intro_pcb [2025/11/24 10:08] – [Are they different types and technologies?] louise
+++ intro_pcb [2026/01/14 09:12] (current) – louise
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 # PCB
+## System definition - Goal and scope
-## Introduction
 ### Definition
+#### What is it used for?
 * PCB = Printed Circuit Board
 * Other name: printed wiring board (PWB)
+* It is used to connect components to one another in an electronic circuit.
-### What is it used for?
+#### Are there different types/technologies?
-* It is used to connect components to one another in an electronic circuit.
+They are various types of PCBs.
-### Are they different types and technologies?
+They can differ in terms of technology:
+  * **Through-Hole Technology** (THT), old technology. Still used for power electronics.
+  * **Surface-Mount Technology** (SMT), used in most digital equipment
+They can have different structures:
+  * Rigid
+  * Rigid-flex
+  * Flex
+They can be very different depending on their specialization too:
+  * High temperature
+  * Heavy copper
+  * High frequency
+  * Metal core
+  * High density
+  * Substrate-like
+#### If different types, what are the differences in terms of materials, process, use consumption?
+#### Is there a generic component that represents a family of components?
+#### How many sub-parts does the system consist of?
+### Perimeter
+#### What is included?
+* Naked PCB
+  * Rigid
+  * Double-sided or multilayer
+#### What is excluded?
+* ICs on top of the PCB, without any electronic components on it
+* R&D activities to develop the PCB
+### Functional unit and reference flows
+#### What is the functional unit?
+#### What are the reference flows?
+## Life cycle - Inventory
+=> Goal: Define state of the art on life cycle stages to be considered.
+### Database and tools
-TBC
+#### What are the already existing data (dataset, parametric model, paper, etc.)?
-## Manufacturing and processes
+### Raw materials
+=> Goal: List the technical information needed for the LCI.
-### What is it made of?
+#### What is it made of?
-* Raw materials
+  * Raw materials
     * FR-4 = glass-reinforced epoxy laminate material (epoxy resin + glass fiber)
     * copper
-* Chemicals
+  * Chemicals
     * potassium carbonate
     * dicyanoaurate
     * sodium hydroxide
-### How is it manufactured?
+#### Who are the main mining? Where are they located?
+#### Is there mining processes information available?
+### Manufacturing
+=> Goal: List the technical information needed for the LCI.
+For each system sub-part:
+#### What are the manufacturing processes?
 * laminating
@@ Line 35: / Line 98: @@
 * plating
-### Who are the main manufacturers?
+#### What are the assembly processes?
+#### For each process, what is the energy consumption?
+#### For each process, what are the inputs (water, chemicals, etc.) ?
+#### For each process, what is the yield? Are they co-products and/or losses?
-TBC
+#### How the “main” manufacturers can be characterized: by the number of components manufactured, the market share (€), other?
+#### Who are the main manufacturers? Where are they located?
-### Where are they located?
-TBC
+### Distribution and packaging
+=> Goal: List the technical information needed for the LCI.
+#### What are the packaging? Made of which materials?
+#### Which are the transport modes?
+#### What are the transport distances?
+### Use
+=> Goal: List the technical information needed for the LCI.
+#### What is the service lifespan? (durée d'utilisation)
+#### Is there a reparation factor?
+#### Is there sub-parts replacement?
+#### Where is it used?
+#### Who are the users?
+#### Which + how much energy does it need?
+#### Is there emissions from use?
+### End of life
+=> Goal: List the technical information needed for the LCI.
+#### What is the lifetime? (durée de vie)
+#### Is it different from lifespan and why?
+#### Is it refurbished? + Where?
+#### Is it recyclable? Can it be dismantled? Which material can be separated? + Where and how?
+#### Is it incinerated with energy recovery? Just incinerated? Buried? + Where?
+#### Which part of waste can be considered as mismanaged (neither recycled, nor incinerated, nor buried)?
 ## Environmental footprint
-### What are the main environmental impacts associated to the materials?
+=> Goal: Define state of the art on environmental impacts.
-TBC
+#### What are the impact assessment methods used (EF, ReCiPe, others)?
-### What are the main environmental impacts associated to the manufacturing processes?
+#### What are the known environmental impacts associated to the system (indicators)?
+#### What are the known hotspots? Which raw material? Which life stage?
 * Processes
@@ Line 65: / Line 162: @@
 * water usage
-### What are the potential parameters affecting environmental impact?
+#### What are the potential parameters affecting environmental impacts?
 Impactful parameters :
-* Number of layers (1 to 16)
+* Technology: Through-Hole Technology (THT) or Surface Mount Technology (SMT)
-* Surface
+* Substrate material: FR4 (mostly used), bio-based material, etc.
+* Number of layers (1 to 16 generally)
+* Surface (m2) -> yield
 * Type of surface finish
+#### What are the main source of uncertainty?
+## Bibliography
+=> Goal: Source every data we cited previously
+#### List of our sources
+#### Data origin: bibliographic source / consortium hypothesis / expert opinion - required if a Data Quality Rating (DQR) must be completed
+## Next steps
+=> Goal: List challenges and clarify priority areas for action
+#### What do we know we don't know?
+#### What are the identified challenges?
+#### What paths/ideas should be explored?