Infineon's Dissolvable PCB: 60% Less Carbon Emissions!

Infineon Technologies has partnered with Jiva Materials to introduce Soluboard, an innovative and sustainable printed circuit board (PCB) solution. Soluboard features natural fibers and halogen-free polymers, making it fully recyclable and biodegradable. This cutting-edge technology aims to reduce the electronics industry's carbon footprint and contribute significantly to sustainable design practices.

The PCB substrate material in Soluboard, developed by Jiva Materials, utilizes natural fibers with a remarkably lower carbon footprint compared to traditional glass fiber-reinforced epoxy laminates. The organic structure is enclosed in non-toxic polymers that dissolve in hot water, leaving behind compostable organic materials. This groundbreaking approach not only eliminates PCB waste and pollution but also enhances the recycling and reusability of electronic components integrated into the PCB.

According to Dr. Jonathan Swanston, CEO and co-founder of Jiva Materials, the adoption of water-based recycling processes can significantly increase precious metal recovery rates. By replacing conventional FR-4 PCB materials with Soluboard, carbon emissions can be reduced by 60%, saving 10.5 kilograms of carbon and 620 grams of plastic per square meter of PCB.

The issue of electronic waste is a growing concern globally, as electronic products often contain critical minerals and costly components with lifespans longer than circuit boards. Current disposal methods such as incineration and landfilling contribute to pollution. However, with Soluboard's innovative design, traditional laminates can be more easily recycled, leading to a more sustainable electronics industry.

Soluboard requires immersion in 90°C water for about 30 minutes to initiate the decomposition process, making it a feasible and efficient solution. After decomposing in hot water, Soluboard's components can be effortlessly recycled—metals and electronic elements can be recovered, natural fibers can be composted or reused, and polymer solutions can be treated through household wastewater processing.

Andreas Kopp, Product Management Manager for Infineon's Green Industrial Power Division, views Soluboard's use of recyclable and biodegradable materials as a significant milestone towards a greener future for both consumer and industrial electronic products. The company is also actively researching ways to make discrete power devices reusable at the end of their lifespans, promoting a circular economy in the electronics industry.

Infineon is committed to integrating biodegradable materials to reduce the carbon footprint in their demonstration and evaluation boards. They are exploring the potential of using this environmentally friendly material across all their circuit boards, striving to make the electronics industry more sustainable.

Currently, Infineon has successfully produced three different demonstration boards using Soluboard and plans to expand its product range in the near future. Over 500 devices have already been deployed to showcase the company's power discrete device portfolio, including a circuit board designed for refrigerator applications. Based on ongoing stress testing, Infineon aims to provide guidance for reusing and recycling power semiconductors removed from Soluboard, significantly prolonging the lifespan of electronic components.