Flexible Circuits

Flexible printed circuits offer a broad array of physical and electrical interconnect solutions that cannot be achieved with rigid printed circuit boards. With over 65 years of mass production experience, Sheldahl® is an industry leader in materials conversion, fabrication, & flexible printed circuit assembly.

We are vertically integrated, offering material development and production, circuit fabrication, and final component assembly. Sheldahl® combines diverse materials to deliver interconnect and material solutions. Examples include Sheldahl’s signature Novaclad®, along with Polyimide, PET, PEN, and other substrate materials. We are able to customize laminate, cover film, and covercoat materials to meet your requirements.

To learn more about our flex circuit capabilities request that Sheldahl® contact you directly or contact us by emailing info@sheldahl.com or call us at  +1-507-663-8001.

Circuits Fabrication

  • Roll-to-roll manufacturing
  • Fine-pitch
  • Screen-printed or Photo-imaged copper traces
  • Additive & Subtractive processing
  • Variety of Copper thickness options
  • Micro-vias (filled)
  • Continuous down-web image
  • Electroplated Nickel/Gold
  • Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold (ENIG)
  • Electroplated Tin
  • Immersion Silver (ImAg)
  • Multiple surface finishes (ENIG, ImAg, Electroplated Nickel, Ni/Au, & Tin)
  • Additional options available

Capabilities

  • Cover film Lamination
  • Shielding Film Application
  • Screened Shields (Silver)
  • Electrical Testing
  • Circuit Blanking
  • Stiffeners
  • Folding
  • Hot Bar Reflow Soldering
  • Eyelets
  • PSA
  • Terminal Crimping
  • SMT assembly
  • Additional options available
Adhesive based - Single & Double Sided Circuits
Flex circuit connector
automotive human machine interface
flex circuit materials
robust flexible cable
flex circuit board
single sided flexible circuits

We create high-volume flexible technology solutions leveraging our broad material offerings, creating endless possibilities for your creativity to flourish.

Materials

  • Copper
    • RA (Rolled Annealed)
    • EDHD (Electro-Deposited High-Ductility)
  • Films:
    • PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
    • PEN (Polyethylene Naphthalate)
    • PI (Polyimide)
  • Adhesives:
    • Over 65 years of formulation
    • Flame Retardant & Non-Flame Retardant
    • Thermally and/or Electrically Conductive
  • Additional film & adhesive options are available
Adhesiveless Novaclad™ HDI
adhesiveless flex circuit
Flex pcb
Novaclad
high density applications
High performance interconnect
Flexible circuits for electrification

Novaclad® HDI (High-Density Interconnect) is built upon our proprietary adhesiveless laminate that leverages Sheldahl’s vacuum deposition, mSAP (Modified Semi-Additive Process), and photolithography to enable fine-line circuitry. Novaclad® HDI circuitry with laser-drilled micro-vias withstands the toughest conditions in terms of temperature, chemical exposure, and vibration. The ability to control copper thickness provides an added degree of design freedom.

Materials

  • Fine-grain structured Copper
  • Films:
    • PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
    • PI (Polyimide)
    • Additional film options are available

 

Q Prime® – Thermal Management
  • Thin dielectrics
  • Thermal Via Arrays
  • Thermally Conductive Adhesives
  • Flex-on-Aluminum
  • Thermally Enhanced Flex-on-Aluminum
  • Low Tg Solutions Minimize Thermomechanical Stresses
 

Our thermal management platform offers a cost-effective solution for reducing thermal impedance while minimizing CTE mismatch issues. These solutions are effective for high-power LED applications where metal-core boards have traditionally been used.

 

Q-Prime

Materials

  • Q-Prime® Adhesive 
  • Q-Prime® 1300
  • Q-Prime® NOVA

 

For questions regarding this technology, contact us!

 

Transparent Circuits
transparent flexible printed circuit
Indium tin oxide
indium tin oxide coated glass

Sheldahl produces Transparent Circuits that are used in many applications which include capacitive touch, displays, heaters, and shielding. Sheldahl has the experience and the materials to meet your product’s needs.

Materials

  • ITO
  • PEDOT
  • Fineline Copper
  • Micro-printed Silver
Large Format Circuits

Sheldahl has the unique capability to produce large format flexible printed circuits through roll-to-roll continuous processing techniques and accurate image to image indexing, enabling us to take your idea from the concept to the final solution.

Materials

  • Adhesive based – Single & Double-sided Circuits
  • Adhesiveless – Novaclad – HDI
  • Other options available