Product Overview
Soluboard® is compatible with industry standard fabrication.
Jiva’s Soluboard® CCL is optimised for etching, electroplating, drilling, routing and other standard PCB fabrication processes. The laminate contains natural fibres, a water-soluble polymer and a halogen-free flame retardant, all of which are non-toxic and biodegradable.
Jiva has now achieved Plated Through Hole (PTH) compatibility with Soluboard®. The laminate can be processed through industry standard aqueous fabrication whilst retaining the ability to break down at end-of-life when immersed in hot water for sustained periods.
Jiva’s products are tested to a flame retardancy rating equivalent to UL94 V1. Soluboard® contains a halogen-free, phosphorous based flame retardant which is significantly less harmful to the environment in comparison to brominated alternatives.
Soluboard® is tested to the Institute of Printed Circuits (IPC) standards as is required for any new materials introduced into the PCB industry. Independent testing data compiled has been gathered to produce a preliminary Technical Data Sheet for Soluboard®.
Following comprehensive validation of Jiva’s Soluboard®, we can work with partners to specify the laminate on their bill of materials.
62 million tonnes of electronic waste are produced globally every year.
(source: WEF)
Only 17% of European e-waste is properly tracked for collection and recycling.
(source: WEF)
Replacing FR-4 with Soluboard® would result in a carbon footprint reduction of up to 67%
(source: University of Portsmouth)
590g of plastic is saved per square metre of Soluboard® compared to FR-4
(source: University of Portsmouth)
Impact
Soluboard® provides a reduced carbon alternative with improved end-of-life processing for PCBs.
The complexity of PCBs makes the recycling process extremely expensive, meaning that they are typically incinerated.
By avoiding the need to incinerate the material, carbon emissions will be greatly reduced and the recycling industry would see higher yields of precious metal recovery if Soluboard® became widely adopted. Evidence shows that recycled metals can see up to a 95% smaller carbon footprint in comparison to newly processed raw materials.
The carbon footprint of one square metre of Soluboard® PCB is estimated to be 5.52kg versus 16.94kg for an FR-4 PCB. This equates to a carbon footprint reduction of 67% overall.
A secondary benefit of switching from a glass-fibre based incumbent material to the natural-fibre based Soluboard® would be a density reduction of the PCB. The density of 1.35g per cubic centimetre of Soluboard® compared to 2g per cubic centimetre of FR-4 equates to a mass saving of over 1kg per square metre. This difference in mass greatly reduces the carbon and plastic impacts of Soluboard® compared to the lifecycle of an FR-4 PCB.
Soluboard® can be dealt with in existing waste processes. Currently, waste PCBs are shredded and incinerated to recover precious metals. Despite the metals being recovered, the leftover remains of the glass-fibre and epoxy boards are typically landfilled.
WEEE metal refiners indicate that Soluboard® will have positive impacts due to the removal of epoxy resin and brominated flame retardants from the waste stream.
Quality policy
At Jiva Materials Ltd, we produce recyclable composite laminate for the Printed Circuit Board and related industry sectors.
We follow strict process parameters to ensure we deliver materials that are compliant to current environmental standards. We strive to reduce the pollution created by electronic waste with our innovative materials that will either set, or be the basis for, new material standards in the future.
We are guided, but not limited to, current legislation, industry and/or customer standards. We will use our collective skills and know-how to deliver world class materials that will meet or exceed our customer expectations.
We are committed to improving our materials, our processes and our people through continuous improvement, training and innovation.
Intellectual property
Soluboard® is protected by an international PCT application (Publication No. WO2018/234801).
Our patent has been published in the UK, US, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan with examination ongoing in Europe, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand.
These territories were selected in line with the global leading territories for PCB manufacture. Jiva’s IP protection covers our composite structure, the method of making it and the use of the composite structure as a laminate for PCBs.
Jiva is continuously investigating new intellectual property that can be protected; further IP has been identified to effectively commercialise the laminate and enable efficient recycling. The development of the Soluboard® PCB recycling process will also be available for license by OEMs specifying Soluboard® PCBs as well as WEEE processors.
If you have any specific applications in mind with strict technical requirements, please contact us as we may have an alternative offering that could suit your needs.