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PPG Develops Fiber Glass Yarn for Circuit Boards

14 October 1998

PPG Develops Fiber Glass Yarn for Circuit Boards

    PITTSBURGH, Oct. 14 -- PPG Industries' fiber
glass research center has developed the first resin-compatible fiber glass
yarn capable of being processed with the latest weaving equipment for use in
the production of printed circuit boards, a company official said.
    "Hybon RCY yarn is the first yarn designed specifically for the
electronics industry," said Terry E. Fry, general manager of fiber glass
electronics and specialty materials.
    He called the development "a major technology breakthrough in the
production of fiber glass yarn," adding that "we are confident this yarn will
improve the manufacture of printed circuit boards while creating process
efficiencies all along the line from weaving through board drilling."
    Fry added that "preliminary data shows that Hybon RCY yarn will
significantly improve laminate performance.  It has the potential to have a
very positive effect on the rigid, multi-layer and chip carrier laminate
markets."
    Fiber glass yarn is woven into fabric used to form laminate layers.  Among
other qualities, the yarn imparts laminate strength, stability and electrical
insulating properties.  A copper foil is applied to each side of a laminate to
prepare it for use in a printed circuit board.
    Fry said Hybon RCY yarn has been in development for more than two years,
stimulated in part by a desire to improve weaving and lamination process
efficiencies.
    Internal and preliminary external trials have included producing laminates
and putting them through typical drilling processes.  "Initial results have
been very promising and indicate that our resin-compatible technology will
provide significant improvements in laminate performance," according to Fry.
    "During the next few months, Hybon RCY yarn will undergo full production
testing so that the attributes we identified in the laboratory can be
validated," he said.  "That evaluation should be completed by early 1999."
    Electronics and specialty materials, one of PPG's 16 strategic business
units, develops fiber glass products for the electronics industry as well as
other applications such as building materials, screening, high-temperature
protection and tape reinforcement.
    PPG's fiber glass technical center is in O'Hara Township near Pittsburgh.
Fiber glass yarns are produced at Lexington, N.C.; Hoogezand, Netherlands;
Wigan, England, and Chia Yi, Taiwan.
    PPG is a leading producer of coatings, flat glass and chemicals in
addition to fiber glass, with annual sales of about $7.5 billion and
production operations in 21 countries.