Debossable Films

This application is related to copending applications

Ser. No. 08/474,929

Ser. No. 08/474,439

Ser. No. 08/483,342

each of which was filed on even date herewith.

A thin thermosetting resin isotropic film that is amenable to being subjected to a debossing procedure that imparts a printed circuit pattern thereon with minimal loss of debossment precision for eventually generating a printed board or a tool for making printed boards.

The term "printed board" ("PB") is understood to be a general term for completely processed printed circuit or printed wiring configurations. It includes rigid or flexible boards (organic or ceramic) and single, double, and multilayer printed boards. A "printed wiring board (`PWB`)" is a subset of the PB. It is a board with only printed-on point-to-point connections. A "printed circuit board" is another subset of PB. It is a board with printed-on components as well as point-to-point connections. In the following description, reference to PB's is intented to encompass PWB's and PCB's.

A typical PB is a fiat board that holds chips and other electronic components. The board is made of fiberglass reinforced thermosetting resin laminate. It interconnects components via conductive metal pathways. The typical resins used in making PB's are brominated bisphenol A type epoxy resins, bis-maleimide resins and polyimide resins. The resin is typically impregnated into a fiberglass fabric and with compression molding. The impregnated fabris (the "prepreg") is laminated into a multi-ply structure, containing as many as 4 or more plies. Such a structure provides a high fiberglass to resin ratio. The conventional printed circuit is an etched circuit. It is made by a photo imaged chemical etch process. A copper foil laminate is covered with a photoresist. U.V. light is shined through a negative image of the circuit paths onto the photoresist, hardening the areas that will remain after etching. The piece is then treated to remove the unhardened areas of the photoresist. When passed through an acid bath (e.g., ferric chloride solution), the exposed copper is etched away. The hardened areas of photoresist are stripped off. An oxide treatment is applied to the copper to achieve proper bonding to the next layer of laminate or for the top layer, a solder mask layer is applied. A similar process creates the microminiaturized circuits on a chip.

In particular, the electrical laminates used in PB's comprise thermosetting resin as described immediately below, impregnated glass continuous filament fiber or fabric systems which are combined with copper foil and pressed in a multi-daylight press into laminates. Laminates have either one or both sides clad with copper. Resin matrix-reinforcing systems range from moderately inexpensive materials such as phenolic/paper laminates or polyester/glass to general purpose epoxy/glass known as FR-4 to high performance (expensive) systems based on bismaleimide-triazine (BT)/glass or polyimide (PI)/glass. Most laminates are pressed/cured in multi-opening presses. At least one company manufactures an epoxy/polyester hybrid copper laminate in a continuous operation.

These different electrical laminates are distinguishable thermally by comparing their respective T.sub.g 's:

Hybrids of these above resin matrices are coated onto glass and pressed/cured onto laminates with intermediate T.sub.g 's:

The FR-4 varnish which is coated onto glass is a complex mixture of epoxy resins, catalyst, amine accelerator and solvents. Glass reinforced prepreg of brominated epoxy resin catalyzed by dicyandiamide (dicy) with an amine accelerator is "B staged" into dry prepreg sheets with flow varying from 8 to 30%. Flow values aid in selecting the proper press/cure cycle in the manufacture of multiply (FR-4) copper clad laminates. Typically these multiply prepregs are combined with copper foil and pressed in a multi-opening press at as high as 1000 psi, 350.degree. F. and requires 30 to 60 minutes for complete cure. A schematic of the overall operation is illustrated in FIG. 3.

Some excess resin flash that must be trimmed develops on the sides of the laminate and results in laminate variability. Caul plates, used in pressing the laminates, periodically build up epoxy residue causing laminate imperfections and rough surfaces. After many pressings, caul plates must be cleaned by a costly grinding/resurfacing or chemical operation.

A maximum level of resin cure is essential for ultimate mechanical properties and dimensional ability for stress free laminates. If not properly cured, problems are amplified during the ensuing processing steps leading to a PB. A partially or incompletely cured laminate causes resin smear (flow) during the drilling operation (aligning and assembling laminates into multi-layer boards). Resin flow and deposits on drill bit cause misalignment and possible rejection of the completed PB during final testing.

Mechanical and electrical properties comparison of phenolic paper and epoxy/glass (FR-4) clearly identify FR-4 as the superior material. On a cost performance basis, the FR-4 board is the predominant material for PB in the U.S. With more pre-assembled devices (surface mount devices) and a significant shift to multi-layer boards, the thermal/mechanical limits of FR-4 are being exceeded by lengthy thermal excursions caused by newer assembly technologies.

A significant problem associated with double-sided and multi-layer boards (MLB) is plated through hole (PTH). The process of forming the copper plated through hole involves fabricating holes through each of the laminate layers, preparing the hole for plating, sensitizing the hole with electroless copper and finally electroplating with copper to the desired thickness. Studies have shown that PTH can only survive "few thermal cycles" (Z axis expansion of FR-4) before copper fatigue/failure occurs. One company reports 220 ppm/.degree.C. for Z axis FR-4 by TMA mid-point between 50.degree. C. and 250.degree. C. The mismatch of coefficient of thermal expansion ("CTE mismatch") between the copper "barrel" PTH and FR-4 results in cracked pads, barrels and/or layer delamination.

This point is described by Harper and Miller, Electronic Packaging. Microelectronics, and Interconnection Dictionary, McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1993, in their definition of "Z Axis":

"(1) The direction through the thickness of a substrate, a feature especially important for printed wiring board laminates, since thermal expansion in the Z axis is much higher than in the X-Y›sic!axis. This is because the resin in the laminate controls the Z axis thermal expansion, whereas the fabric in the laminate controls the X-Y axis thermal expansion. Resins have much high›er! thermal expansions than do fabrics. (2) The direction perpendicular to the fibers in a woven fiber-reinforced laminate--namely, through the thickness of the laminate. Thermal expansion is much higher in the Z axis, since this expansion is more controlled by the resin in the laminate."

There are a number of improvements with respect to PB manufacture that are sought by the industry. One is in the area of cost reduction. Another relates to reduction in the capital investment of a production line to produce PB's. A third improvement involves the environmental problems that plagues the current processes for making PB's. A fourth improvement is a greater circuit density that requires finer lines and spaces.

For example, the photo imaging and etch processes involve expensive capital equipment and hazardous chemicals. A photoresist coater is required, followed by a UV exposure machine, followed by a rinse that generates contaminated water waste. This is followed by an etching line that usually consists of 2 to 5 etch tanks and 10 to 15 rinse tanks, all of which generate toxic waste.

The essence of a PB is to provide the circuit pathways carrying electrical pulses from one point to another. The pulses flow through on/off switches, called transistors, located in chips, which open or close when electrically activated. The current flowing through one switch effects the opening or closing of another and so on. Small clusters of transistors form logic gates, which are the building blocks behind all this magic, and a specific combination of logic gates make up a circuit.

Today's chip is typically an integrated circuit. Chips are squares or rectangles that measure approximately from 1/16th to 5/8th of an inch on a side. They are about 1/30th of an inch thick, although only the top 1/1000th of an inch holds the actual circuits. Chips contain from a few dozen to several million electronic components (transistors, resistors, etc.). The integrated circuit and microelectronic are synonymous. Chips are generally characterized by their function.

The chip relies on single crystal silicon wafers onto which an electrical circuit is provided. Layers of these wafers can be used to define the function of the chip. The crystal is then placed in a lead frame, with extending copper and nickel alloy leads. The frame is packaged (encapsulated) with an epoxy molding compound such as an epoxy cresol novolac ("ECN") resin. The encased chip is adhesively bonded to the PB with an epoxy resin adhesive that requires heat to cure. The chip leads are then bonded, e.g., by soldering, to the PB's metal circuitry.

The current PB technology is reaching its limits in terms of how fine circuit lines can be made economically while the decreasing sizes of portable electronic equipment will demand even finer lines.

It is well recognized that a byproduct of miniaturization of a PB and a chip is speed. The shorter the distance a pulse travels, the faster it gets there. Greater miniaturization allows greater area availability for more circuitry, thus allowing for more functions to be added to the circuit. The smaller the components making up the transistor, the faster the transistor switches. The same effect holds true with respect to a PB. Switch times of transistors are measured in billionths and trillionths of a second. In fact, a Josephson junction transistor has been able to switch in 50 quadrillionths of a second. Thus a tremendous impetus exists to reduce the size of chips and PB's, and in the case of PB's, to reduce the distance between interconnected functions on the PB.

George D. Gregoire, Dimensional Circuits Corp., San Diego, Calif., 92126 in a paper entitled "Fine-line `Grooved` Circuitry--A New PB Process for SMT," describes an evaluation of his process in making and employing common PB in surface mount technology (SMT) application, which is in part the technology described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,912,844 and 5,334,279. ›Surface mounting is a circuit board packaging technique in which the leads (pins) on the chips and components are soldered on top of the board, not through it. As a result, boards can be smaller and built faster! From this analysis, Mr. Gregoire defines what he calls "an improved circuit trace geometry and manufacturing process for PB's containing `grooved traces` or `dimensional circuitry.`" The manufacturing process employs a hot stamping approach to form dimensional circuits. According to the author, major parts of the process embrace:

molding is effected in a laminating press with ordinary panel-sized laminate materials (e.g., epoxy-glass, polyimide, etc.) in prepreg form;

tooling cost, even for low volume, is nominal;

chemicals and steps used for copper metallization is traditional, yet high, benchmark-level FR4, adhesion is achieved, as high as for preclad PB's;

the following traditional PB production steps are omitted:

production phototooling (film)

dryfilm plating resist

film-to-PB registration (features are molded in)

imaging

developing, and

possibly, solder resist in its entirety.

A small amount of common etch resist is used in a "self-locating" way, bladed on, with no registration steps required. The resist is stated to be retained, and protected in the grooves, below the surface, during etching.

In defining the significance of this technology to users, Gregoire states that it dramatically improves soldering yields during fine-pitch surface mounting. He states that groove circuits provide yield improvements in the self-locating feature during assembly because the grooves or channels allow SMT IC leads to automatically self-locate. The self-locating feature provides yield and quality (e.g., much higher lead pull strength) improvements. The wide, funnel-shaped and deep channels completely wick and fill with solder, making automatic allowance for the skew and out-of-planarity problems that come with high lead count, fine-pitch ICs.

A significant deficiency of the molding step of this process is its use of thermosetting resins in prepreg form, which means that the prepreg sheet contains a glass fiber fabric to reinforce the epoxy resin. The specific ones mentioned are epoxy-glass, and polyimide, without specifying the fiber. In the latter case, it is assumed that the fiber is glass fiber. That requires the hot stamping into an unyielding fiber mass that restricts resin flow and resists well-defined debossment. Moreover, a resin-glass fiber prepreg creates a anisotropic substrate creating CTE mismatches for any copper layer deposited thereon, due to the surface irregularity of that material. As pointed out above, this results in "cracked pads, barrels and/or layer delamination," clearly indicating why such a substrate is not favored by Gregoire.

Parker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,844, describes punching an optionally planar surface with a punch that may be heated to impart grooves and cavities in the surface. The punch may have foil disposed on it so that it is transferred to the substrate and in the grooves and cavities in the substrate. The portions of the foil on the surface of the substrate may be removed by printed circuit techniques or machining or laser techniques so that only the portions of the foil in the grooves and the cavities remain. FIGS. 5-8 of the patent list alternative steps in producing a printed circuit. They are listed in the following table:

An advantage of the PB procedure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,844, is the exploitation of grooves and cavities in the board to provide the printed circuit. This allows one to create the surface area needed for obtaining low electrical resistance in the wiring placed in the grooves and associated with the cavities. Note that the depth of the grooves are preferably at least as great as the widths of the grooves and since the solder can fill the grooves, the widths of the grooves can be made quite small while still retaining relatively low electrical resistance. In a number of instances, such as at column 4, lines 9-19, column 5, lines 4-8, lines 9-16, lines 18-19, the patent utilizes heating of the substrate to deform it, using temperatures up to the melting temperature of the substrate. This demonstrates that the substrate must be heated above a glass transition temperature in order to achieve flow. On the other hand, the patent also states that the PB's can be made of a ceramic or an epoxy-glass material. In addition, the patent states that the substrate may also be made of high temperature thermoplastic or thermosetting materials without specifying what they may be or their properties. The patent is devoid of details on how the metal foil is bonded to the thermosetting or thermoplastic substrate, and how one avoids a CTE mismatch, as characterized above. For example, a metal foil will not tightly bond to a thermoplastic substrate even if the substrate is melted in contact with the foil; an adhesive is required to effect reasonable bonding of the foil to the thermoplastic substrate. This appears to be recognized in the Gregoire's recently issued U.S. Pat. No.5,390,412 that specifies the use of an "adhesion promote coating" that involves forming a "dendritic oxide coating" by bathing in a "water base bath" in order to bond an electroplated copper layer to a dielectric substrate.

Gregoire, U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,279, relates to a PB tool for producing three-dimensional PB's having grooves with strongly bonded or laminated metallic pads therein. The circuit board tool comprises a metallized male mold substrate having a plurality of groove forming projections. The metalized mold substrate is made from a female parent or predecessor master tool. The patent articulates a three-dimensional PB that employs a high heat deflective plastic, without defining the plastic, and a plurality of recesses or grooves molded into the substrate surface for receiving the fine pitch, closely spaced-apart leads, of an integrated circuit.

Gregoire, U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,393, is another patent in this area.

The Gregoire and Parker patents, all assigned to Dimensional Circuits Corp., directed to technology for simplifying PB manufacture, demonstrate the complexity of making tools and making PB's from the tools. One of the reasons for such complexity is that the materials of construction that are used for tool making and for printed wire boards are undefined or improperly designed for a simple and effective PB construction that avoid CTE mismatches and for making tools that can be used in shaping plastics and resins into printed wire board substrates, whether containing or not containing grooves and cavities.

The art of making PB's is restricted by the processes and material from which they are made. Labor intensive techniques such as stenciling, silk screening, masking, etching, and the like, drive up the cost of PB's. There is a need for a simple and cost effective method for making PB's that has the capacity of minimizing the required use of labor intensive techniques.

This invention relates to a thin isotropic thermosetting resin film that is amenable to being subjected to a debossing procedure that imparts a printed circuit pattern thereon. The thin isotropic thermosetting resin film avoids the aforementioned CTE deficiencies of an anisotropic fabric prepreg. This can be effected with minimal loss of debossment precision for eventually generating a printed circuit board that is devoid of CTE mismatch, or for forming a tool useful in effecting the debossment procedure. The thin thermosetting resin film has the capacity of being precision molded with a tool at a relatively low temperature, such as temperatures as low as room temperature (.about.23.5.degree. C.), with superior duplication of the pattern.

In particular, the invention relates to a thin thermosetting resin film that is amenable to being subjected to a debossing procedure that debosses a grooved printed circuit pattern thereon with minimal loss of debossment precision of the grooved pattern, which pattern and the grooving can be cured to produce a thermoset resin film that can be employed for eventually generating a PB. In addition, the thin thermosetting resin film is amenable to being subjected to flow into the grooves and cavities of a female tool, as defined above, whereby to form a male replication of the female tool, subjecting the resin to temperatures sufficiently high enough to cure the resin and fix a surface thereof to replicate a male image of the female surface. In this manner, the film of the invention is convertible into a male tool for making a PB by stamping another film having the same or similar composition.

The invention also contemplates a thin isotropic film of a thermosetting resin that contains in situ-expandable thermoplastic particles that contains an essentially uniform density and thickness across the breadth of the film. In this embodiment, pressure built up in the interior of the film during curing causes the film to expand. The invention contemplates placing such a film in contact with a debossing stamp containing a replicative printed circuit pattern and heating the film at a temperature that causes the in situ-expandable thermoplastic particles to expand into the debossing stamp surface to generate a debossed pattern in the expanded film.

The term "isotropic" means, in the context of this invention, a material possessing essentially the same electrical and physical properties in all directions (e.g., x, y and z) through it. This is to be contrasted with fabric reinforced prepregs. Such prepregs are anisotropic. They exhibit several times differences in properties between the x, y and z directions. In the case of this invention, the films do not exhibit differences in electrical and physical properties by more than 20% in any direction.

The thermosetting resin film of the invention has the following qualities:

a) it is designed for shaping by processes such as stamping, compression molding, transfer molding, injection molding, and the like;

b) the resin is nonconductive, which means that the resin can be used as a dielectric substrate;

c) it is an isotropic thin film that is sufficiently uniform in thickness to provide consistent and essentially uniform heat shaping capability across the whole of the film, and the thickness should be sufficient to accept the shape imposed by the shaping process;

d) the resin can be molded by compression or stamp molding without the need for constraining flow at the edges of the resin film;

e) the film possesses low flow over a broad temperature range so that it does not flow uncontrollably while undergoing cure conditions, and when placed under pressure, only the portions that are superimposed over a groove or cavity in the case of a female mold, or over a protuberance in the case of a male mold, will be caused to flow because of pressure imposed on the film; and

f) the film gels or achieves properties similar to a state of gelation, over conditions leading to cure, that satisfy commercial conditions.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to an essentially non-conductive isotropic thermosetting resin film that is moldable without edge flow constraints, which contains, as its major ingredients,

(i) a thermosetting resin that advances in molecular weight without forming a significant volatile byproduct and

(ii) a flow control component.

The resin film has

a) an uniform areal thickness ranging from about 1 to about 250 mils (about 0.00254 cm to about 0.635 cm) as calculated from the weight of resin film for a given area;

b) with minimum and maximum thicknesses not exceeding the deviation factor set forth in Table A.

c) low flow at a broad temperature range;

d) the ability to cure, gel, or near-gel, at temperatures from about 20.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C., in less than about 7 days and more than 1 second;

e) a low dielectric constant in the thermoset state.

In a further improvement of the invention, the moldable, essentially non-conductive thermosetting resin film employs as the flow control agent a diverse group of materials, such as:

i) one or more electronic grade filler;

ii) a thermoplastic resin that is soluble or partially soluble in the thermosetting resin;

iii) an elastomer-type polymer that provide discrete elastomer phases (second phases) in the thermosetting resin matrix;

iv) a thixotrope; and

v) a mixture of two or more of i), ii), iii) and iv).

In another embodiment of the invention, the moldable, essentially non-conductive thermosetting resin film is metal platable and adheres to a conductive metal film. In particular, the film is metal platable and adhesively bondable to metal foil that can be used in the making of a stamping surface or for creating a conductive pathway on the stamped and cured resin film.

The foil that is laminated to the thin resin film is a relatively thin sheet of essentially uniform thickness as characterized by ANSI/IPC-MF-150F, .sctn. 3.4.3, adopted on Oct. 4, 1991, entitled: "Metal Foil for Printed Wiring Applications," published by the Institute for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits, 7380 N. Lincoln Avenue, Lincolnwood, Ill. 60646. The foil may have a thickness between about 0.1 mil to about 20 mils; varying .+-.10 percent for deposited foils and .+-.5 percent for wrought foils. Suitable forms of the foil are of the electrodeposited or wrought forms. The foil sheet may be made of a variety of conductive metals and metal alloys, such as aluminum, copper, chromium, gold, silver, magnesium, nickel, brass, zinc, and the like. Preferred foil metals are aluminum, copper and nickel. Copper grade foils are characterized by ANSI/IPC-MF-150F, at .sctn. 1.2.4.1. The foil sheet may be a separately formed sheet that is adhesively bonded to the thin resin film or the foil may be formed as a sheet bonded to the thin resin film by a metal deposition technique. The metal deposition can be effected by electroless and electrolytic metal plating, by metal sputtering, vacuum deposition, and the like.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and 1F are schematic side views illustrating employment of the film of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a line for the continuous production of the film of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a prior art system for making PB's.

There are many commercial thermosetting resin systems that can be used to produce a thin pliable adhesive thermosetting resin film. For example, certain of such films are employed in Synspand.RTM. and Syncore.RTM., expanded or expandable films that are sold by The Dexter Corporation. However, another special subset of such a resin system is a thin isotropic thermosetting resin film that is amenable to being subjected to a debossing procedure that imprints a printed circuit pattern thereon without creating mismatches of coefficient of thermal expansion ("CTE") between the copper deposited thereon that could result in cracks in grooves, sockets, pads, etc. Such a resin film should be capable of effecting debossment precision sufficient to eventually generate a PB or for forming a tool useful in effecting the debossment procedure leading to the PB. The thin thermosetting resin film should have the capacity of being precision debossed, e.g., stamped, with a tool at a relatively low temperature, such as temperatures as low as room temperature (.about.23.5.degree. C.), with superior duplication of the pattern. It is particularly desirable that the thin thermosetting resin film be amenable to a stamping procedure that debosses a grooved printed circuit pattern thereon with minimal loss of debossment precision of the grooved pattern. The film should be capable of retaining the debossed pattern and the grooving through a cure cycle without flow out within the pattern, to produce a thermoset (i.e., cured) resin film that is employable for making a printed circuit board. On the other hand, the thin thermosetting resin film may be subjected to flow into the grooves and cavities of a female tool, as defined above, to form a male replication of the female tool. Or the film may be shaped and stamped with a tool, subjecting the resin to temperatures sufficiently high enough to set the resin (e.g., by gelation, incipient gelation ("near-gelation") or cure) while in contact with the tool, thereby fixing a surface thereof to replicate the male or female image of the female or male surface, as the case may be. In this manner, the film of the invention is convertible into a male or female tool for making a PB by debossing another film having the same or similar composition, or the film can be used as a PB substrate.

The elements of the essentially nonconductive thermosetting resin film is that it is shapable. It has a thin uniform thickness. It contains a thermosetting resin that advances to a cured state without forming a significant volatile byproduct that will affect the quality of the cured film. It contains one or more flow control components that allows the film to be molded without edge flow constraints,.sup.1 provides low flow of the film over a broad temperature range and retains a debossed image during debossment up to and through cure of the film. The film advances, under conditions leading to cure of the thermosetting resin, to a state of gelation (see IPC-TM-650 Method 2.3.18) or a condition that gives physical properties similar to the state of gelation (i.e., incipient gelation) at temperatures as low as about 20.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C., in less than about 7 days and more than 1 second. Last but not least, the film exhibits a low dielectric constant (i.e., possesses the ability to resist the formation of an electric field within it) consistent with the requirements of a PB.

In another embodiment of the invention, the moldable, essentially non-conductive thermosetting resin film is metal platable and adheres to a conductive metal film. In particular, the film is metal platable and adhesively bondable to metal foil that can be used in the making of a stamping surface or for creating a conductive pathway on the stamped and cured resin film.

The Thermosetting Resin

The typical thermosetting resin is an A-stage resin. In some cases, it may be desirable to utilize a B-stage resin but in the typical case, such is done in combination with an A-stage resin. Such B-stage resin will affect the viscosity of the resin formulation but they are typically not relied on to achieve the level of thickening for the most effective operation of the invention.

Epoxy systems curing in the range from 150.degree.-400.degree. F. (65.5.degree.-204.4.degree. C.) are common matrix resins for making thin film thermosetting resin products including the products of this invention. Matrix resin of bismaleimide (BMI), phenolic, polyester, PMR-15 polyimide, cyanate ester resins and acetylene terminated resins may also be used. The most widely used matrix resins are the epoxy resins, and a wide variety are suitable for use in the practice of this invention. Illustrative of such epoxy resins are the following: ##STR1##

The epoxy resins may be modified up to 95 weight percent by including in the resin formulation bis-aryl cyanate esters, such as those of the formula: ##STR2## wherein X is a bisphenol linkage and R.sub.1,2,3 and 4 are ring substituents such as hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, and the like. Illustrative compounds are: ##STR3## Another preferred resin is one that is totally the reaction product of one or more of the bis-aryl cyanate esters.

Catalysts and Hardeners

The epoxy resin systems contain epoxy curing agents to form solid, infusible products. For this purpose, epoxy curing agents that are acidic, neutral or alkaline may be used. Examples include, among others, amines hardeners, phenols, acid anhydrides, polyamides and Lewis acids and bases. Desirably, the epoxy resins of the invention are combined with hardeners that cure the resin to a thermoset condition. The preferred hardeners are amine compounds, ranging from dicyandiamide, to ureas, to aliphatic and aromatic amines. Preferred are the aromatic amines encompassed by the formula: ##STR4## wherein Q is one or more of a divalent group such as --SO.sub.2 --, --O--, R.sub.a R.sub.b C--, CO--, --CONH--, --OCONH--, and the like, Ra and Rb may each independently be one or more of hydrogen, phenyl, alkyl of 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2 to about 4 carbon atoms, fluorine, cycloalkyl of 3 to about 8 carbon atoms, and the like, x may be 0 or 1 , y may be 0 or 1 and is 1 when x is 1 and z may be 0 or a positive integer, typically not greater then about 5.

Another preferred class of hardeners are the aliphatic amines such as the alkyleneamines. Illustrative of suitable alkyleneamines are the following: monoethanolamine, ethylenediamine, N-(2-aminoethyl)ethanolamine, diethylenetriamine, piperazine, N-(2-aminoethyl)piperazine, triethylenetetramine, piperazinoethylethylenediamine, 4-aminoethyltriethylenetetramine, tetraethylenepentamine, aminoethylpiperazinoethlethylenediamine, piperazinoethyldiethylenetriamine, and the like.

Another class of hardeners, which can also be used as extender of the epoxy resin, are the higher molecular weight poly(oxalkylene)polyamines such as those of the following formulas: ##STR5##

Preferred hardeners are diamines of the formula: ##STR6##

The hardener may be a monoamine such as aniline, para-aimnophenol, and alkylated versions of them. Other desirable hardeners are the reaction products of dialkylamines, such as dimethylamine, diethylamine, methylehylamine, di-n-propylamime, and the like, with a variety of mono and diisocyanates to form mono and diureas. Any of the polyisocyanates listed below may be so reacted for use as a hardener. Specific illustration of useful hardeners are those encompassed by the following formulas and descriptions: ##STR7## wherein R.sub.y is a monovalent group; R.sub.x is alkyl, halo, alkoxy, and the like; R.sub.z is methylene, isopropylidene, ethylidene, or a covalent bond; and s is 0-4.

Preferred urea hardeners are those that are the reaction products of dimethylamine with mixtures of 80% 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate and 20% 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, polymeric isocyanate, p-chlorophenylisocyanate, 3,4-dichlorophenyl-isocyanate or phenylisocyanate.

Accelerators may also be used and include imidazoles and substituted ureas. Examples include 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole and p-chlorophenyl-1,1-dimethyl urea.

The amount of the hardener employed is usually stoichiometric on the basis of one amine group per epoxy group in the resin. If the epoxide is a triepoxide and the hardener is a diamine, then the molar ratio of hardener to epoxide would typically be about 2.5/3 or 0.83. A typical formulation would have a weight ratio of epoxy resin to hardener of about 3/2 to about 4/1. Where any of the hardeners serve primarily as extenders of the epoxide resin, then the amount of the hardener in the typical case will be less than that generally employed for hardening the epoxide. Mixtures of the above hardeners and with other hardeners are within the contemplation of this invention.

Other Useful Resins

As noted above, other reactive resin systems include the various thermosetting or thermosetting resins include the bismaleimide (BMI), phenolic, polyester (especially the unsaturated polyester resins typically used in SMC production), PPMR-15 polyimide, bis-aryl cyanate esters and acetylene terminated resins are also suitable.

A particularly desirable resin for this application is the vinyl ester resin. This class of resin is based on the reaction of unsaturated carboxylic acids and epoxy resins or epoxy compounds. Illustrative reactants in forming the vinyl esters are the following: ##STR8## Typical of the vinyl esters are the following: ##STR9## In the above formulae, w is a positive value of from about 1 to about 20, preferably from about 2 to about 10.

The vinyl ester resins may be used alone or in combination with monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, such as styrene, o-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, ethylstyrene, .alpha.-vinyl-xylene, .alpha.-chlorostyrene, .alpha.-bromostyrene, vinylbenzylchloride, p-tert.-butylstyrene, methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, butyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, lauryl acrylate, 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate, ethyl methacrylate, and the like, ##STR10## diethylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1,4-divinylbenzene, and the like. In the above, n is 0 or 1.

A number of vinyl ester resins require the use of solvents such as methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, toluene, and the like.

The vinyl esters may be cured by any free radical mechanism, such as by photoinitiation and/or by use of peroxidic compounds. A photoinitiator may be included in the formulation, as an optional ingredient. Light-initiated curing of the vinyl ester alone or with other polymerizable materials involves photosensitization of light-sensitive compounds by ultraviolet or visible light, which, in turn, initiates polymerization of the resin materials. The photoinitiator may comprise a combination of a photosensitive ketone and a tertiary amine. Typical photosensitive ketones include benzophenone, acetophenone, thioxanthen-9-one,9-fluorenone, anthraquinone, 4'-methoxyacetophenone, diethoxyacetophenone, biacetyl, 2,3-pentadione, benzyl, 4,4'-methoxybenzil, 4,4'-oxidibenzil, and 2,3-bornadione (dl camphroquinone). Typical tertiary amines include ethyl-4-dimethyl amino benzoate, ethyl-2-dimethyl amino benzoate, 4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)benzophenone, N-methyldiethanolamine, and dimethylaminobenzaldehyde. Any of the known photosensitizing system that can function effectively when exposed to light may substitute for the above-named compounds or combinations. The amount of the photoinitiator should be sufficient to initiate polymerization in a selected resin and complete it in depth within about half a minute when the resin composition is exposed to a visible-light output of at least 5,000 foot candles. In addition, any known free-radical scavenger (anti-oxidants) such as butylated hydroxytoluene can be used to scavenge small amounts of free radicals generated during extended shelf storage.

The curing of the vinyl ester is primarily effected by a thermal initiator, which is a typical thermal curing agent known in the art. Illustrative of these are benzoyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, ditertiary butyl peroxide, tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, tertiary butyl perbenzoate, Luperox 118 (sold by Wallace and Tieman, Lucidol Division, 1740 Military Road, Buffalo, N.Y. 14240), cumene hydroperoxide, or other suitable peroxides may initiate polymerization of the polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated components of the primary coating. For example, Benzoyl peroxide may be used together with 2-hydroxyethyl-p-toluidine. It is common to combine metal salts s naphthenates, e.g., cobalt naphthenate, and the like, with tertiary amines, such as dimethyl aniline, with the peroxidic catalyst.

The amount of catalyst is typically that amount that facilitates the cure within less than ten hours at a temperature greater than 25.degree. C. Generally, the catalyst system will be less than about 10 weight percent of the resin formulation. As a rule, the catalyst system will range from about 0.1 to about 8 weight percent of the resin formulation.

Thickening

As noted above, thickening of the resin in forming the film involves the combination in the resin formulation of

i) one or more electronic grade filler;

ii) a thermoplastic resin that is soluble or partially soluble in the thermosetting resin;

iii) an elastomer-type polymer that provide discrete elastomer phases (second phases) in the thermosetting resin matrix;

iv) a thixotrope; and

v) a mixture of two or more of i), ii), iii) and iv).

Illustrative of suitable electronic grade fillers are aluminum oxides including alumina trihydrate, coated aluminum nitrate, silicon carbide, diamond, ground cured fiber reinforced thermoset resin, as well as a variety of thermoplastic and thermosetting fibers. The thermoplastic polymer used in forming these fibers may be made from condensation type polymers, such as nylon-6,6; nylon-6; nylon-4,6; polyester from polyethylene terephthalate; Kevlar.TM. polyaramide; polycarbonates (viz., poly(2,2-bis(1.4-oxyphenyl)propane carbonate)); polyarylates (viz., poly(2,2-bis(1.4-oxyphenyl)propane terephthalate); polyimides; polyetherimides, such as Ultem.TM. .sup.2 ; polysulfones (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,175,175 and 4,108,837), such as Udel.TM. and Radel.TM. A-400.sup.3 ; the polyethersulfones (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,008,203, 4,175,175 and 4,108,837), such as Victrex.TM. .sup.4 ; polyarylsulfones; polyarylamideimides, such as Torlon.TM..sup.5 ; and the acrylics and modacrylic fibers; and the like. The thermoplastic polymer used in providing the thermoplastic polymer may also be made from condensation type polymers used in forming the film, such as nylon -6,6; nylon-6; nylon-4,6; polyester from polyethylene terephthalate; Kevlar .TM. polyaramide; polycarbonates (viz., poly(2,2-bis(1.4-oxyphenyl)propane carbonate)); polyarylates (viz., poly(2,2-bis(1.4-oxyphenyl)propane terephthalate); polyimides; polyetherimides, such as Ultem.TM.; polysulfones (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,175,175 and 4,108,837), such as Ultem.TM. and Radel.TM. A-400; the polyethersulfones (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,008,203, 4,175,175 and 4,108,837), such as Victrex.TM.; polyarylsulfones; polyarylamideimides, such as Torlon.TM.; and the like.

A particularly preferred class of thermoplastic polymer for providing toughening and as a flow control aid for the thermosetting resin formulations are the polyurethanes of the formula: ##STR11## wherein a and b are each 1, 2 or 3, n is at least 1, X is a divalent organic radical containing at least two carbon atoms in which the N's are bonded to different carbon atoms of X, R is an aliphatic polyester or polyalkylene oxide wherein

the aliphatic polyester is a polyester of an alkylene diol and an aliphatic carboxylic acid, or a polycaprolactone polyol, and

the alkylene group of the polyalkylene oxide contains on average greater than three carbon atoms and not greater than five carbon atoms, and R.sup.o is an organic aromatic containing group in which the OH and N bonded to the R.sup.o group is bonded directly to different aromatic carbon atoms. Synergistic combinations of the polymer of formula (I) and other toughener polymers are useful in improving the toughening properties of the thermosetting resin formulations for making printed circuit board composites.

This invention includes the use in the thin film thermosetting resin formulation of a miscible or partially miscible linear polyurethane polymer containing phenolic hydroxyl functionality for reaction with a thermosetting resin comprising

a linear polyurethane of recurring units containing linear ester or ether moieties or a combination of ester and ether moieties which are interbonded through urethane groups and uriedo bonded phenolic hydroxyl-containing terminal groups.

These linear polyurethane toughener polymers may contain uriedo bonded phenolic hydroxyl-containing terminal groups of the formula: ##STR12## wherein a and b are each 1, 2 or 3,n is at least 1, each X is a divalent organic radical containing at least two carbon atoms in which the N's are bonded to different carbon atoms of X, R is an aliphatic polyester or polyalkylene oxide wherein

the aliphatic polyester is a polyester of an alkylene diol and an aliphatic carboxylic acid, or a polycaprolactone polyol, and

the alkylene group of the polyalkylene oxide contains on average greater than three carbon atoms and not greater than five carbon atoms, and R.sup.o is an organic aromatic containing group in which the OH and N bonded to the R.sup.o group are bonded directly to different carbon atoms and the OH is bonded directly to an aromatic carbon atom. An improved version of the polymer of formula (I) is the polymer of formula (II). ##STR13## wherein x and y are 0 or 1, R' is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are hydrogen, nitro, halogen or alkyl of 1 to about 4 carbon atoms. In a preferred embodiment of formula (I), the carbons to which the OH and N are bonded are separated from each other by at least one aromatic carbon atom. A more desirable embodiment is a toughener polymer of the formula: ##STR14## In this embodiment, R.sub.01 is a divalent organic group and c is 0 or 1. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, with respect to the polymer of formula (II), x and y are each 1, R.sup.1,R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are hydrogen, a and b are 1 and n has a value such that the weight average molecular weight of the polymer is about 20,000 to about 120,000. Incorporating this preferred embodiment in formula (III), R.sub.01 is methylene or c is 0. In a further preferred embodiment is a polymer having the formula: ##STR15## wherein n has a value such that the weight average molecular weight of the polymer is about 30,000 to about 110,000 and R is a polyalkylene oxide in which the alkylene groups thereof have an average value of about 3.5 to about 4.5 carbon atoms. A most preferred polyurethane polymer has the formula: ##STR16## wherein n has a value such that the weight average molecular weight of the polymer is about 35,000 to about 100,000 and f has a value of at least 1, preferably from 1 to about 70, more preferably from about 4 to about 55, and most preferably from about 6 to about 42. The terminal hydroxyl groups may be in the ortho, meta or para positions, preferably in the para position.

A preferred polyurethane is one having a molecular weight from about 20,000 to about 120,000, preferably about 30,000 to about 110,000, and most preferably about 35,000 to about 100,000, formed by the reaction of a poly-1,4-butylene oxide diol having a molecular weight of from about 650 to about 5,000 with a stoichiometric excess of methylene diphenyldiisocyanate capped by reaction with o, m or p-amino phenol.

The polyurethane polymer suitable for use in the thermosetting resin film formulation can be a modification such as those made by the following reactions: ##STR17##

These polyurethane polymers are specially capped linear polyurethanes formed by the reaction of a diisocyanate of the formula O.dbd.C.dbd.N--X--N.dbd.C.dbd.O with an alkylene diol of the formula HO--R--OH in the molar ratio ##STR18## of >1, such that the resulting polymer equals the value of n as defined above, followed by the reaction with aminophenolic compounds. Diisocyanates suitable for use in making the polyurethanes include the following:

and mixtures thereof.

The preferred polyisocyanates are TDI, i.e., the mixture of 80% 2,4-tolylenediisocyanate and 20% 2,6-tolylenediisocyanate, or the individual monomer 2,4-tolylenediisocyanate (2,4-TDI) and 2,6-tolylenediisocyanate (2.6-TDI) and MDI, i.e., 4,4-diphenylmethylene diisocyanate and 3,3'-diphenyl-methylene diisocyanate, or the individual monomer 4,4'-diphenylmethylene diisocyanate (4,4'-MDI) or 3,3'-diphenylmethylene diisocyanate (3,3'-MDI).

The polyalkylene ether or oxide diol comprises a divalent alkylene oxide moiety wherein the alkylene groups contain, on average, greater than three carbon atoms and not greater than five carbon atoms. Typically, they are based on ethylene oxide, 1,2-propylene oxide, 1,3-propylene oxide, 1,2-butylene oxide, 1,3-butylene oxide, 1,4-butylene oxide, 1,2-pentylene oxide, 1,3-pentylene oxide, 1,4-pentylene oxide, 1,5-pentylene oxide, 1,2-hexylene oxide, generally polymerized alone when the alkylene group contains greater than 3 carbon atoms, or as mixtures, so as to form a number average alkylene carbon content greater than about 3 and as high as about 5, preferably greater than 3.5 and as high as about 4.5. Many types of alkylene oxide diols are available for urethane production but all of those that have an average alkylene below about 3.5 have too high water absorption properties for use in high performance adhesive applications. Such exclude the polyethylene oxide diol homo-oligomers and the polypropylene oxide diol homo-oligomers from consideration in forming the polyurethane tougheners.

All of the polyalkylene oxide diols used in making the polyurethane tougheners/flow control aids are prepolymers of the alkylene oxide(s), created by the polymerization of the monomeric alkylene oxide. Such prepolymer formation as well as their reactions to form polyurethanes is notoriously well known. Of the prepolymers, a preferred one is based on the polymerization of 1,4-butylene oxide (i.e., tetrahydrofuran) to a molecular weight of from about 650 to about 5,000. Such prepolymers are commercially available from DuPont under the name Terathane.RTM.. Terathanes.RTM. range in molecular weights as low as about 650 to as high as about 2900, as well as molecular weight versions of about 1000 and 2000. Higher and lower molecular weight versions are also available. Such prepolymers provide low water absorption, flexible molecular structure, hydrolyric stability, and commercial availability at a moderate cost. Terathanes.RTM. have the formula HO(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.t H where t has a value of about 8-9 to about 40, though higher and lower values are available, and such oligomers could be used in making the polyurethanes.

Terathanes.RTM. have been widely recommended for use in making polyurethanes by DuPont. For example, they have been recommended by DuPont for use in forming soft segments in polyurethanes. When used with TDI, DuPont advises that amines such as 4,4'-methylene-bis(2-chloroaniline) are favored as chain extenders or curatives. If 4.4'-MDI is the chain extender, DuPont advises that 1,4-butanediol is the favored chain extender. However, this invention does not rely on other monomers as chain extenders or curatives though chain extenders can be employed to raise the molecular weight of lower polyurethane prepolymers prior to the capping step in making the polyurethanes.

The polyester diols useful in making the polyurethanes are based on the reaction products of an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid derivative (such as the acid halide or ester) and an aliphatic diol derived from an polyalkylene oxide diol such as an alkylene glycol of 2 to about 5 carbon atoms, or based on the reaction of .epsilon.-caprolactone with a starter organic diol. These polyester diols are commercially available materials. They are typically less hydrolytically stable than the aforedefined polyalkylene oxide diols. Those that are desirable in the practice of the invention are those that possess low water absorption, flexible molecular structure, hydrolytic stability, and commercial availability at a moderate cost.

The linear polyester resins may be reaction products of saturated and unsaturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, such as malonic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, hexahydro or tetrahydrophthalic acid, "dimer" acid (dimerized fatty acids), and their respected anhydrides (where chemically possible), acid halides, and esters, with organic diols. The polyester may include in the reaction a minor amount, typically not more than 20 mol %, preferably not more than 10 mol %, of the acid component of the polyester, of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid such as o-phthalic acid or anhydride, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, their respected anhydrides (where chemically possible), acid halides, and esters. In addition to the above polyesters one may also use dicyclopentadiene modified unsaturated polyesters like those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,986,922 and 3,883,612, so long as the polyester is linear. The organic diol employed to produce the polyester may include the alkylene glycols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, and the like, and the polyalkylene oxide glycols such as triglyme (b.p. 216.degree. C.), tetraglyme (b.p. 276.degree. C.), tripropylene glycol, tetrapropylene glycol, and the like.

Chain termination of the linear polyalkylene oxide or polyester polyurethanes is effected by reacting more than one mole of the diisocyanate for each mole of the polyalkylene oxide diol and/or polyester diol. The amount of the stoichiometric excess of the diisocyanate will determine the degree of polymerization (n) of the polyurethane. A stoichiometric amount of the diisocyanate to the diol is 1 mole of each. If the reaction is conducted under anhydrous conditions, using an excess of diisocyanate over the stoichiometric amount results in a polymer that is chain terminated with isocyanato groups at each end. If any water is present in the polyurethane formation step, then stoichiometry should take that into account, because water will generate more near-terminal residing urea, as well as terminating isocyanato groups appended thereto. The level of excess diisocyanate will determine the degree of polymerization and thus determine the value of n in the above formulas. Such an isocyanato-terminated polymer is not a thermally or chemically stable polymer.

The hydroxy aromatic amine compound for terminating the isocyanato containing polyurethane is preferably a structure of the formula: ##STR19## wherein the combination of R.sub.00 and R.sub.02 is equivalent to R.sup.o and R.sub.01 defined above, and in particular, R.sub.00 may be a covalent bond or a divalent non-aromatic group such as alkylene, alkylidene, oxygen, carbonyl, sulfone, and the like, d is 0 or 1 and when it is 1, the hatched line designating a fused ring bond is nonexistent, and when d is 0, the hatched line may exist as a fused ring bond to R.sub.02. R.sub.02 is aryl, polyaryl, fused ring aryl, polyfused ring aryl, cycloalkyl and the like, and c is 0 or 1. When d is 1, c is 1, and when d is 0, c may be 0 or 1. R.sub.03 is hydrogen, or alkyl of 1 to about 14 carbon atoms. Illustrative examples of suitable amines are the following: ##STR20##

The aminephenols, p, m or o-aminophenol, prove to be effective terminating molecules for the isocyanato capped polyurethanes. Solubility or a low melting point gives the meta product some advantage but the p-aminophenol dissolves readily in the toughener polymer--epoxide reaction system at the temperatures generally used (80.degree.-120.degree. C.). The low molecular weight of these aminephenols (109.1) means that relatively small amounts can be used for termination, solubility is high, the termination reaction is rapid, governed mostly by the time required to get good dispersion in the high viscosity system. The powdered amine phenol can be added directly to the reaction mixture or more desirably can be powdered, mixed with a small portion of the low oligomer epoxide resin diluent, discussed below, and then added. Measurement of the IR absorption ratio of the isocyanate group 2240 cm.sup.-1 peak to the 2840 cm.sup.-1 --CH peak can be used to ensure that termination is complete.

During the polymerization of diisocyanates with the hydroxy terminated alkylene oxide or polyester based materials, high molecular weights are attained (.about.20K-.about.120K, more typically in the range of about 30K to about 100K). As a result, viscosities became very high and at rational reaction temperatures (.about.50-170.degree. C., preferably from about 80.degree. C.-120.degree. C.) stirring in laboratory or production equipment can become difficult. Use of a solvent as a diluent (e.g., methylethylketone (MEK), tetrahydrofuran (THF), and the like) of the reactants and the reaction products, though usable in making the polymers of the invention, adds the problem of its subsequent removal with a concomitant increase in production cost. Advantage is taken of the very low reactivity of hydroxyl groups with epoxide groups (unless catalyzed) and also the low reactivity of isocyanate groups with epoxide groups (unless the complex formation of oxazolidone is deliberately forced). Therefore, oligomer-free and thus secondary hydroxyl-free, epoxide resins can be used as unreactive diluents during the polymer formation. Such epoxide resins are subsequently compatible with formulation needs in future adhesive systems. For this dilution during reaction, epoxides as free as possible from oligomers should be used. Shell's Epon.RTM. 825 (the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A) has been successfully used as a diluent even although the small amount of oligomer present (5%) did show some reaction. At 1/1 ratio to total derived polymer, Epon.RTM. 825 gave polymer products easily stirred at needed production temperatures and at that level should meet most subsequent formulation needs. D.E.N..RTM. 332 from Dow Chemical should also be suitable. The Bis F resins, such as Epiclon.RTM. 830S, if distilled to elminate oligomers, could also be used.

Illustrative of suitable diluents are epoxy monomers and dimers of the following formula: ##STR21## wherein R.sup.a and R.sup.b are each hydrogen, alkyl of 1-3 carbon atoms or phenyl, preferably alkyl such as methyl, and p has a value of 0 to <1, preferably less than about 0.2. Most preferably, p is equal to 0.

The reaction conditions for forming the polyurethane from the diisocyanate and the diol is a temperature of about 50.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. with mixing in the presence of a diluent, such as a conventional solvent, as indicated above, or the reactive diluent comprising the epoxy menemetic resin indicated above. The reaction should be carried out in the absence of added water, and anhydrous conditions are preferred. Conditions that remove water from the reactants before reaction and during reaction are desirable. No special catalysts are needed to effect the reaction but a catalyst that does not adversely affect the reactions can be employed. Catalysts are needed in polymerization reactions using aliphatic isocyanates.

The foregoing polyurethanes and their manufacture are described in commonly assigned copending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/349,876, filed Dec. 6, 1994.

Another class of flow control aid thixotropic agents and/or elastomer-type polymers that provide discrete elastomer phases (second phases) in the thermosetting resin matrix. Certain of these materials may reduce, to some finite degree, the crosslinking density of the thermoset resin (C-stage). Many of these materials introduce very favorable properties to the resulting thermoset resin. For example, a particularly desirable material for this purpose, is an elastomeric polymer containing soft and hard segments, the hard segments acting like or forming on processing, crosslinking of the elastomeric type. Some of these elastomeric types contain functional end groups that allow it to couple with complementary functional monomers or polymers to form the desired elastomer in situ of the thermosetting resin and render it non-pourable and tacky, while toughening the cured resin. As a class, these elastomeric polymers act or are crosslinked yet are thermoprocessable, which when discretely provided in the matrix resin render the resin non-pourable and tacky, and also toughen it.

One class of suitable elastomer-type thermoplastic ABS (acrylonitrile-1,4-butadiene-styrene) block copolymers that are typically used as modifiers of other resin systems. They are characterized as having a wide range of properties though the preferred systems of the invention utilize copolymers that are high rubber types that, when compared to other copolymers of this type, have a relatively low tensile strength, low tensile modulus, higher impact resistance, low hardness and heat deflection temperature.

Another elastomer that is found desirable are the carboxyl and amine terminated liquid butadiene acrylonitrile copolymers. Such copolymers may contain pendant carboxyl groups in the interior of the polymer structure through the inclusion of methacrylic or acrylic acid in the polymerization or through the hydrolysis of some of the pendant nitrile units. Such polymers react with the epoxy resin and as a result, the epoxy forms the hard segment generating the elastomer properties.

Another class of block thermoplastic elastomers is Kraton.RTM., available from Shell Chemical Company. These thermoplastic rubber polymers possess usable thermoplastic properties. They can be softened and they flow under heat and pressure. They then recover their structures on cooling. The chemical make-up are of three discrete blocks of the linear or A--B--A type. They are available as styrene-butadiene-styrene (S--B--S) block copolymers, styrene-isoprene-styrene (S--B--S) block copolymers and styrene-ethyl-ene/butylene-styrene (S--EB--S) block copolymers. They are characterize by styrene polymer endblocks and an elastomeric midblock. After processing, the polystyrene endblocks physically crosslink, locking the rubber network in place. This physical crosslinking is reversible on heating.

Another series of the Kraton.RTM. thermoplastic rubbers are the diblock polymers in which one block is a hard thermoplastic and the other is a saturated soft elastomer. Illustrative of this series is Kraton.RTM. G 1701, a diblock polymer of a hard polystyrene block and a saturated, soft poly(ethylene-propylene) block.

Other rubbers or elastomers include: (a) homopolymers or copolymers of conjugated dienes having a weight average molecular weight of 30,000 to 400,000 or higher as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,036, in which the conjugated dienes contain from 4-11 carbon atoms per molecule such as 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, and the like; (b) epihalohydrin homopolymers, a copolymer of two or more epihalohydrin monomer, or a copolymer of an epihalohydrin monomer(s) with an oxide monomer(s) having a number average molecular weight (M.sub.n) which varies from about 800 to about 50,000, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,604; (c) chloroprene polymers including homopolymers of chloroprene and copolymers of chloroprene with sulfur and/or with at least one copolymerizable organic monomer wherein chloroprene constitutes at least 50 weight percent of the organic monomer make-up of the copolymer as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,471; (d) hydrocarbon polymers including ethylene/propylene dipolymers and copolymers of ethylene/propylene and at least one nonconjugated diene, such as ethylene/propylene/hexadiene/norbornadiene, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,471; (e) conjugated diene butyl elastomers, such as copolymers consisting of from 85 to 99.5% by weight of a C.sub.4 -C.sub.5 isolefin combined with 15 to 0.5% by weight of a conjugated multiolefin having 4 to 14 carbon atoms, copolymers of isobutylene and isoprene where a major portion of the isoprene units combined therein have conjugated diene unsaturation, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,160,759.

Specific illustrations of suitable elastomeric polymers are the following:

1. Hycar.TM. CTBN liquid reactive rubbers, carboxyl terminated butadieneacrylonitrile copolymers sold by B. F. Goodrich.

2. Hycar.TM. CTBNX, similar to CTBN except that they contain internal pendant carboxyl groups, also supplied by B. F. Goodrich.

3. Hycar.TM. ATBN, amine terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymers sold by B. F. Goodrich.

4. K 1102-28:72 styrene:butadiene linear SBS polymer, available from Shell Chemical Company as Kraton.RTM. 1102.

5. KDX 1118-30:70 styrene:butadiene copolymer containing 20% SBS triblock and 80% SB diblock, available from Shell Chemical Company as Kraton.RTM. DX 1118.

6. KG 1657-14:86 styrene:ethylene-butylene:styrene copolymer available from Shell Chemical Company as Kraton.RTM. G1657.

7. S 840 A-Stereospecific 43:57 styrene-butadiene SB rubber available from Firestone Synthetic Rubber & Latex Company as Stereon.RTM. 840A.

8. SBR 1006-random 23.5:76.5 styrene:butadiene SB block copolymer rubber available from Goodrich Chemical Company as Ameripol.RTM. 1006.

9. SBR 1502-Random 23.5:77.5 styrene:butadiene rubber available from Hules Mexicanos, or from Goodrich Rubber Company as Ameripol.RTM. 1502.

10. Blendex.TM. modifier resins (e.g., 305, 310, 311, 336, 338 and 405)--ABS polymers sold by General Electric. Different varieties are available and their suitability depends on the properties sought.

Additional flow reductions are provided by thixotroping agents such as fumed silica. Illustrative of thixotropic agents are high surface area fumed silicas and organosilyl blocked fumed silicas, and the like.

The thin film may be characterized as non-pourable. Optionally, the film may be tacky as well. This condition can be achieved in a number of ways. Many thermosetting resins are solids at about 23.degree. C. and many of them are liquids at this temperature. Both kinds of resins can be made fluid non-pourable and tacky. For example, a resin that is solid. and a resin that is liquid can be combined to form a mixed resin system that is non-pourable and tacky. In addition, a solid or liquid thermosetting resin can have incorporated in it a variety of diverse materials that will render the resin fluid non-pourable at conventional handling temperature conditions and fluid non-pourable and tacky at room temperature (about 15.degree.-37.degree. C.). Conventional handling temperatures are defined as a temperature of between about -20.degree. C. to about 43.degree. C..sup.6

Though the in situ-expandable thermoplastic particles or the solid chemical blowing agent will render a liquid thermosetting resin more viscous, they alone are not effective for making the film non-pourable. If the thermosetting resin is solid, it can be calendered into a film by melting the resin with heat under conditions that avoid condensation or addition of the resin to a thermoset condition (C-stage). If the resin is a liquid, it can be blended with thixotropic agents, other solid resins and/or liquid or thermoplastic elastomeric modifiers to convert the resin from a liquid to a non-pourable and tacky material.

The thermoplastic polymer used in forming the in situ-expandable thermoplastic particles are readily prepared from a wide variety of materials. A number of patents refer to their manufacture. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,615,972 describes their preparation by polymerizing the monomer of an aqueous dispersion of (1) organic monomeric materials suitable for polymerization to a thermoplastic resinous material having the desired physical properties, (2) a liquid blowing or raising agent which exerts a little solvent action on the resulting polymer, and in a quantity in excess of that which is soluble in the polymer, and (3) a dispersion stabilizing material that is utilized to maintain the dispersion. The resulting solid spherical particles have a quantity of the liquid-blowing agent encapsulated in them as a distinct and separate phase.

The thermoplastic polymers are formed by the polymerization of one or more of a variety of different types of alkenyl monomers, such as those of the formula: ##STR22## to form homopolymers or copolymers, such as random or ordered (including block) copolymers. In the above formula, R.sup.ox may be hydrogen, alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl and the like, or halogen, such as chlorine, fluorine, bromine or iodine, and X.sub.1 may be an aromatic containing moiety bonded via an aromatic carbon atom, a carbonyl oxy ester moiety, halogen, cyano, oxycarbonyl ester, carboxyl, and the like. Illustrative of these monomers are those in which X.sub.1 is aromatic containing, such as styrene, o-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, ethylstyrene, .alpha.-vinyl-xylene, .alpha.-chlorostyrene, .alpha.-bromostyrene, vinylbenzylchloride, p-tert.-butylstyrene, and the like. Also illustrative of these monomers are those in which X.sub.1 is a carbonyl oxy ester moiety to form acrylate monomers alone or in combination with the alkenyl aromatic monomers may also be utilized. Such acrylate-type monomers include methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, butyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, lauryl acrylate, 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate, ethyl methacrylate, and the like. X.sub.1 and R.sup.ox may be a halogen, such as chlorine, fluorine, bromine and iodine, thereby to encompass the formation of copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride, acrylonitrile with vinyl chloride, vinyl bromide, and similar halogenated vinyl compounds. X.sub.1 may be a cyano group and this includes polymers of acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile. X.sub.1 may be an oxycarbonyl ester, such as the vinyl ester, e.g., vinyl acetate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl stearate, vinyl laurate, vinyl myristate, vinyl propionate, and the like. One may also employ for specific purposes ethylenically unsaturated copolymerizable acids such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, vinylbenzoic acid, and the like.

The thermoplastic polymers may also include copolymers (of the random or ordered varieties, especially blocked copolymers) of the monomers described above with a variety of hydrocarbon monomers, such as propylene, butene, and one or more dienes, such as:

straight chain acyclic dienes such as: 1,4-hexadiene, 1,6-octadiene, and the like;

branched chain acyclic dienes such as: 5-methyl-1,4-hexadiene, 3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadiene, 3,7-dimethyl-1,7-octadiene and the mixed isomers of dihydro-myrcene, dihydroocinene, and the like;

single ring alicyclic dienes such as: 1,4-cyclohexadiene, 1,5-cyclooctadiene, 1,5-cyclododecadiene, and the like;

multi-ring alicyclic fused and bridged ring dienes such as: tetrahydroindene, methyltetrahydroindene, dicyclopentadiene, bicyclo-(2,2,1)-hepta-2,5-diene, alkenyl, alkylidene, cycloalkenyl and cycloalkylidene norbornenes such as 5-methylene-2-norbornene (MNB), 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB), 5-propyl-2-norbornene, 5-isopropylidene-2-norbornene, 5-(4-cyclopentenyl)-2-norbornene, 5-cyclohexylidene-2-norbornene, and the like.

The thermoplastic polymer used in forming the in situ-expandable thermoplastic particles may also be made from condensation type polymers, such as nylon-6,6; nylon-6; nylon-4,6; polyester from polyethylene terephthalate; Kevlar.TM. polyaramide; polycarbonates (viz., poly(2,2-bis(1.4-oxyphenyl)propane carbonate)); polyarylates (viz., poly(2,2-bis(1.4-oxyphenyl)propane terephthalate); polyimides; polyetherimides, such as Ultem.TM.; polysulfones (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,175,175 and 4,108,837), such as Udel.TM. and Radel.TM. A-400; the polyethersulfones (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,008,203, 4,175,175 and 4,108,837), such as Victrex.TM.; polyarylsulfones; polyarylamideimides, such as Torlon.TM.; and the like.

A wide variety of blowing or raising agents may be incorporated within the polymerization system. They can be volatile fluid-forming agents such as aliphatic hydrocarbons including ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, butene, isobutylene, neopentane, acetylene, hexane, heptane, or mixtures of one or more such aliphatic hydrocarbons having a molecular weight of a least 26 and a boiling point below the range of the softening point of the resinous material when saturated with the particular blowing agent utilized.

Other suitable fluid-forming agents are the chlorofluorocarbons such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,615,972 (column 4, lines 21-30) and tetraalkyl silanes such as tetramethyl silane, trimethylethyl silane, trimethylisopropyl silane and trimethyl-n-propyl silane. As pointed out in this patent, the boiling point of such foaming agents at atmospheric pressure should be about the same temperature range or lower than the softening point of the resinous material employed.

Blowing agents such as the Freons.RTM., such as trichlorofluoromethane, hydrocarbons such as n-pentane, i-pentane, neo-pentane, butane, i-butane, azodicarbonamide are commonly suggested blowing agents found in these types of in situ-expandable particles. Typically, the unexpanded particles contain from about 3 to about 40 weight % blowing agent.

As pointed out in U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,799, patented Aug. 9, 1983, the particle size of the unexpanded particles, as well as the expanded microspheres can vary widely. Particle sizes for the unexpanded particles can range, for example, from about 1 .mu.m to about 1 mm, preferably from about 2 .mu.m to about 0.5 mm. One version of in situ-expandable particles is sold under the name Expancel.RTM., by Nobel Industries Sweden, Sundsvall, Sweden (U.S. address: Marrietta, Ga. 30062). They range in unexpanded particle size from about 5 .mu.m to about 50 .mu.m. The particle diameters expand 2 to 5 times. Preferably, the in situ-expandable particles used have a mixed particle size of wide spread to achieve the best packing, on expansion, in the syntactic molded foam. A particularly preferred in situ-expandable particle is Expancel.RTM. 091 DU, which is believed to be a terpolymer of vinylidene chloride, acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile containing 10-18 weight % isopentane, and possesses the following properties: average unexpanded particle size of about 12 .mu.m with a spread of about 5-50 .mu.m; true density (expanded in water at 100.degree. C., kg/m.sup.3), <20; TMA-T(start) .degree.C., 125-130; T(max) .degree.C., .about.183; TMA-density, kg/m.sup.3, <17.

The chemical blowing agent particles (with a particle size ranging from about 1 .mu.m to about 1 mm, preferably from about 2 .mu.m to about 0.5 mm) that can be incorporated are inorganic and organic solid compositions that typically decompose at a particular temperature to generate a volatile (gas) component that causes microcell formation in the thermosetting matrix resin. Typical inorganic blowing agents include the ammonium carbonates and bicarbonates, alkali metal carbonates and bicarbonates such as lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, rubidium carbonate, cesium carbonate, lithium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, rubidium bicarbonate, cesium bicarbonate, mixture of the carbonates and bicarbonates as well as mixtures of the alkali metal form of the carbonates and bicarbonates. These carbonates and bicarbonates can be made to decompose at lower temperatures by incorporating organic carboxylic acids and acid anhydrides blowing agent accelerators into the formulation. Suitable organic carboxylic acids and anhydrides are citric acid, acetic acid and anhydride, maleic anhydride, There are a variety of chemical blowing agents sold under the name Celogen.TM. (Naugatuck Chemical Division of U.S. Rubber Company (Uniroyal)) that include toluene sulfonyl hydrazide, toluene sulfonyl semicarbazide, 5-phenyl tetraazole, azodicarbonamide, and the like, that are excellent chemical blowing agents suitable for the purposes of the invention. The chemical blowing agents may be employed in the formulations of the invention in amounts ranging from about 0.1 to about 3 parts by weight, preferably from about 0.5 to 2.0 parts by weight, of the thermosetting resin formulation.

Low Profile Additives

There may be incorporated into the thermosetting resin formulation certain thermoplastic materials known in the field as low profile additives. These can be polymers of vinyl acetate, acrylics, saturated polyesters, polyurethanes, styrenebutadiene and similarly used materials.

Suitable thermoplastic vinyl acetate polymer low profile additives are thermoplastic poly(vinyl acetate) homopolymers and copolymers containing at least 5 weight percent vinyl acetate. Such polymers include, for example, vinyl acetate homopolymer; carboxylated vinyl acetate polymers include copolymers of vinyl acetate and ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid and the like or anhydrides such as maleic anhydride; vinyl acetate/vinyl chloride/maleic acid terpolymer, and the like. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,718,714 and 4,284,736 and British Patent No. 1,361,841 for descriptions of some of the suitable vinyl acetate polymer low profile additives. The useful vinyl acetate polymer low profile additives ordinarily have molecular weights within the range of from about 25,000 to about 175,000. Suitable polyvinyl acetate low profile additives are LP-40 and LP-40A that are sold by Union Carbide Chemical & Plastics Corp., Danbury, CT.

Suitable thermoplastic saturated polyester low profile additives are, in general, low molecular weight saturated polymers of polymerizable linear and/or cyclic esters and carboxylated saturated polymers and said polymerizable esters having at least one carboxyl group per molecule. Polymers of linear and/or cyclic esters including carboxylated polymers having an average of at least one carboxyl group per molecule that maybe used in accordance with the present invention are those which possess a reduced viscosity of at least about 0.1, and preferably from about 0.15 to about 15 higher. The preferred polymers of cyclic esters have a reduced viscosity of about 0.2 to about 10.

Thermoplastic saturated polymers of linear and/or cyclic esters are well known and the carboxylated saturated esters are well known and such thermoplastic saturated polymers, and particularly polymers prepared from epsilon caprolactones, have been advantageously employed as low profile additives. Reference, for example is made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,549,586 and 3,668,178 for descriptions of thermoplastic saturated polyester low profile additives and carboxylated thermoplastic saturated polyester low profile additives prepared from cyclic esters.

Other thermoplastic saturated polyesters that are useful as low profile additives are those based on condensation products of, primarily, dicarboxylic acids and organic diols. Some examples of such diacids are adipic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid and the like and such glycols could be ethylene glycol, diethyl glycol, neopentyl glycol and the like.

Also suitable in certain aspects of the invention are thomoplastic polyalkyl acrylate or methacrylate low profile additives including, for example, homopolymers of methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate; copolymers of methyl methacrylate and lower alkyl esters of acrylic and methacrylic acids, and copolymers of methyl methacrylate with minor amounts of one or more of the following: lauroyl methacrylate, isobornyl methacrylate, acrylamide, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, styrene, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, methacrylic acid, polystyrene, styrene copolymers, such as styrene/butadiene copolymers, cellulose acetate butyate, alkylene oxide polymers, urethane polymers, and the like.

Molecular weight of the alkyl acrylate or methacrylate polymers useful in the invention may vary over a wide range from 10,000 to 1,000,000 and preferably from 25,000 to 500,000.

Urethane polymers that can be employed in this invention, alone or as mixtures with other low profile additives, are broadly structured and some examples can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,035,439; EP 74-746; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,894.

The low profile additives may usually be employed in the compositions of the invention in proportions from about 1 to 25 weight percent, and preferably from about 5 to 20 weight percent, based upon the total weight of thermosetting resin, low profile additive and other reactive components.

The low profile additive can function alone or in combination with other thickening agents, as a thickening contributor to the flow characteristics of the resin.

The thin film may be characterized as non-pourable. Optionally, the film may be tacky as well. This condition can be achieved in a number of ways. Many thermosetting resins are solids at about 23.degree. C. and many of them are liquids at this temperature. Both kinds of resins can be made fluid non-pourable and tacky. For example, a resin that is solid and a resin that is liquid can be combined to form a mixed resin system that is non-pourable and tacky. In addition, a solid or liquid thermosetting resin can have incorporated in it a variety of diverse materials that will render the resin fluid non-pourable at conventional handling temperature conditions and fluid non-pourable and tacky at room temperature (about 15.degree.-37.degree. C.). Conventional handling temperatures are defined as a temperature of between about -20.degree. C. to about 43.degree. C..sup.7

Typical formulations of the invention are set forth in the following tables. A typical resin formulation comprises the following:

Specific representative illustrations of such film formulations are the following:

These resin formulations are made by conventional mixing of the components in standard mixing equipment for viscous compositions. Good results have been obtained using a Ross.RTM. Double Planetary Mixer, provided with vacuum construction and jacketing to control temperature and deaerate the mixture. Mixing is typically effected by blending the resin, unexpanded particles, elastomer components, extenders, diluents, curing agent and vacuum pumping to remove entrained air. The temperature chosen is variable depending on the viscosity of the formulation. It may be desirable to separately mix the resin and the curing agent. In such a case, the formulation may be divided up to mix the resin with some portion of the formulation to effect a well dispersed condition and do the same with the curing agent, and then combine the well dispersed mixes, so as to mix them all under conditions avoiding premature reaction. Such procedures are well within the skill of the art.

The following discussion relates to the drawings and the figures shown therein. None of the figures show true dimensions of the various components there depicted. FIG. 1 illustrates schematically the implementation of the film of the invention in making a debossed article. FIG. 1A shows a composite of uncured thin film 11 superimposed over solid substrate 12. Film 11 is rested on substrate 12. Substrate 12 may be any solid surface, such as steel, wood, thermoset plastic, a heated metal platen, and the like. In a true application of the invention, film 11 would be represented much thinner than is depicted.

FIG. 1B includes the features of FIG. 1A plus tool 13 with male molding surfaces 15 protruding from tool surface 17 indicative of the printed circuit pattern for a printed circuit board. Tool 13 can be heat jacketed or contain electric heater within it so that it can be used to effect cure of film 11 at the appropriate time. However, tool 13 can be made of a cured thermoset resin, and in such an embodiment, it is unlikely that it will contain heating means.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1B, film 11 rests on solid substrate 12, and tool 13 is superimposed over film 11, in position to be lowered into film 11 or to have substrate 12 raised so that film 11 is pushed into the surface of tool 13 containing molding surfaces 15. Alternatively, both substrate 12 and tool 13 can be moved to merge them and cause surfaces 15 to deboss film 11.

Howsoever that tool 13 and film 11, with or without the presence of foil 14, merge so that molding surfaces 15 penetrate directly or indirectly (i.e., via debossing foil 14), the surface of uncured film 11, film 11 will yield to the pressure imposed by surfaces 15. Because of the thickened nature of film 11, penetration of the surface of film 11 will not radiate flow of the film outside of the area of the male surfaces 15. Instead, the displaced content of film 11 will cause the remainder of film 11 to rise, until such time that surface 17 contacts film 11. When surface 17 contacts film 11, the overall pressure imposed on film 11 will cause film 11 to expand in surface area. However, if surfaces 15 too rapidly penetrate film 11, it is possible that the penetration will cause some small amount of film 11 to flow, thereby causing film 11 to expand in surface area.

From the above, it is easily seen that substrate 12 can be a stationary platen, a platen that has an upward and downward movement, a moving table that follows a moving tool 13, an endless belt surface where tool 13 is part of a rotating drum or tool 13 is affixed to a longitudinally-moving platen, and the like.

FIG. 1C is another embodiment in which a foil sheet 14 is placed between tool 13 and film 11, and the superimposed foil sheet 14 is rested on the adjacent surface of film 11, which in turn is supported by support 12. Foil sheet 14 may be made of a variety of metals, as indicated above. The foil sheet 14 can be made directly on film 11 by in-line vapor deposition of the foil sheet 14 onto a surface of film 11. When foil sheet 14 is desired to be removed from the shaped thermoset film 11, it is preferred to coat its surface contacting film 11 with a release agent, such as a silicone or polyfluorinated organic release agent. There are many different types of release agent that are commercially available that will serve this purpose.

Once tool 13 is caused to shape film 11, either as the case shown in FIG. 1B or FIG. 1C, primary shaping is caused by protruding surfaces 15 penetrating the contiguous surface of film 11. This causes film 11 to respond to penetration of surfaces 15 without materially increasing the density of film 11 at the points of penetration. FIG. 1D is a side view showing the result of such shaping action.

In both of the embodiments as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, the resulting structure as shown FIG. 1D contains grooves 16 that are the female correspondents to male surfaces 15. In the situation where the composite formed is based on the use of foil as shown in FIG. 1C, the resulting shaped structure will contain a foil layer that follows the grooved surface 16 of FIG. 1D. Where the foil 14 contains a release agent, then the shaped foil can be easily pulled from the surface of the shaped film 11, leaving a printed circuit board substrate that can be metal plated or otherwise treated by conventional technologies to generate the printed circuit board.

Curing of film 11 can take place while tool surfaces 15 and 17, with or without foil 14, penetrate the contiguous surface of film 11. In such an embodiment, the assembly of tool 13, film 11 and substrate 12, with or without foil 14, as shown in FIG. 1C, can be placed in an oven and with tool 13 contiguous with film 11 or foil 14 and film 11. Then tool 13 and film 11 can be pressed together so that the pattern of surfaces 15 is debossed into film 11 and the composite is heated to effect gelation or incipient gelation or total cure of film 11. The composite is then removed from the oven, cooled and tool 13 is removed from film 11. If metal foil 14 is part of the structure, as shown in FIG. 1E, it will result in a composite in which foil 21 is debossed into film 11, to form foil lined grooves 20. If foil 14 does not contain a release agent, the adhesive nature of film 11 will tenaciously bond foil 21 to film 11. However, if is desired to use the foil 14 as a shaping assist, then foil 21 may be pulled from contact with film 11 provided that the release agent was provided on the side of film 14 to make contact with film 11. If it is desired to leave foil 21 in contact with film 11, then that composite may be subjected an abrading action to remove foil from the surface 18 leaving foil 21 in grooves 20 of the resulting printed circuit board. In the case where foil 21 is left in grooves 20, it is not desirable to put a release agent on the surface of foil 14 that is contiguous to film 11. In this case, in a preferred embodiment, it may be desirable to print the contiguous side of foil 14 with a pattern of the release agent coating that corresponds to the pattern of surface 18. In this way, foil 21 can be wiped from the surface of debossed film 11, as shown in FIG. 1D, in much the same way that unglued gold leaf is removed in making gold leaf finished signs. Abrasion of bonded metal foil from the non-grooved and non-cavity surfaces of the cured film 11 may be effected by standard sanding belts or wheels and high pressure water streams.

The use of foil 14 in making the printed circuit board can serve, as indicated above, the function of transferring a metal conductive film into the grooves. Chips and other peripheral circuit components affixed to the PB can be solder-connected to the conductive film in the grooves and cavities making up the PB.

Calendering the resin formulation is a desirable way of making the thin films of the invention. This is illustrated in the drawings. As shown in FIG. 2, which is a schematic illustration of a calendering line 30 for calendering a shapable film. The thermosetting matrix resin formulation feed 33 is fed to nip rolls 31. Nip rolls 31 are calender rolls spaced apart to the desired thickness of the film 37. It is desirable in the practice of the invention to avoid drawing action of film 37 after formation by rolls 31. Rolls 31 may vary in width, wider rolls generating more throughput and narrower rolls providing more control over film thickness from edge to edge. Because this invention is concerned with films of essentially uniform thickness from edge to edge, and front to back, it is desirable to use calender rolls that are less than about 60 inches wide. A convenient width is about 40 to about 48 inches. Manufacture of films meeting the specifications of this invention are easier at those widths. Because the viscosity of feed 33 is not excessive, one may look at the calendering operation as a filming operation, akin to roller coating. The distance between rolls 31 is maintained by a force balance (not shown) between the hydraulic pressure pushing on the roll and the off-setting matrix fluid pressure acting in the opposite direction to the roll

Once film 37 is formed, it is frequently desirable to increase the matrix resin viscosity in the film. Temperature reduction of film 37 increases viscosity that reduces flow within the film and thus helps to preserve its dimensions. This may be accomplished by passing film 37 over one or more chilled rollers 35. If used as chilled rollers, they are typically internally cooled via internal jacketing, to temperatures from about 0.degree. C. to about 25.degree. C., preferably from about 10.degree. C. to about 16.degree. C., sufficiently low enough to prevent any sagging or flow of the resin matrix. The chill rollers, by cooling the film, increase the resin's elastic modulus so that resin flow is decreased and film dimensional stability is maintained. In the configuration of FIG. 2, roller 35 may be utilized as a chilled roller, a guide roller for alignment purposes and/or a take-up roller, as desired. For handling convenience, release paper or plastic (viz., polyethylene film) layers (not shown) may be applied to the outside surfaces of film 37, from their corresponding core rolls, to form a sandwiched construction. Continuous density measurements are taken at point 39 and physical areal weight measurements taken at point 41. Feed-back from both of these measurements may be used to adjust the gap between the nip rolls 31, thus controlling thickness. Thickness control may be enhanced by use of statistical process control to indicate when nip gap adjustments are required.

FIG. 3, which relates to a prior art process for making flat board PB's, describes unrolling glass fiber fabric from fiber glass fabric roll 111, passing continuous sheet 113 of glass fiber fabric into resin trough 115 via guide rollers 117, over guide roller 119 and under guide roller 121. The number of guides shown is symbolic and not necessarily indicative of how the resin impregnation step is specifically carried out. Trough 115 contains sufficient A-stage thermosetting resin to allow the desired impregnation of the fabric. The fabric withdrawn from trough 115 is fed through squeeze rolls 123 set to nip fabric 125 and reduce the level of resin therein. Fabric 125, containing A-stage thermosetting resin, is fed to treater 127 containing heater 133. Fabric 125 is fed over guide roller 129, past heater 133 and then over guide roller 131. In treater 127, polymerization of the A-stage resin is initiated so that the thermosetting resin in fabric sheet 135, is transformed to a B-stage resin. Prepreg fabric sheet 135 is guided by roller 137 to collection roll 139. The prepreg fabric 135 is, at a separate station, unrolled and cut to sized individual sheets 141. They are then superimposed to form a multi-layer prelaminate lay-up structure 143 containing copper foil on the outside top and bottom surfaces of the multiple superimposed prepreg sheets. The lay-up structure 143 is inserted into laminator 145 comprising a platen press containing upper heated platen 147 and lower heated platen 149. With pressure and heat, typically around 350.degree. F., the B-stage resin is cured to form copper clad laminate 151. ›See footnote 1 above! Laminate 151 is trimmed and sized to form finished laminates 153 that are then put into packages 155 and shipped to the PB producer.