Why should one avoid right angles in PCB traces?
Reasons:
- It will lead to signal loss, reflections, impedance discontinuity.
- It acts as unintentional antenna because of sharp edge. (When electrical current goes through this bend, it generate electromagnetic radiation, this will interfere with nearby components)
- Signal integrity degrades.
The main reason is Acid trap:
One of the processes during PCB fabrication involves the removal of excess copper using a chemical solution.
An Acid trap is the residual acid get trapped in the bent region during the etching process.
Traces with 90-degree bends trap this acid in place, preventing it from being washed away.
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Due to these traps, copper can starts to corrode (over-etching) leading to open or lost or short circuit connections in the trace.
This is the reason why 90-degree bends in copper traces are avoided in PCB.
Acid traps will have additional effects on Vias, Component connectors and other aspects of PCB.
It depends on the solution used and nowadays, they are not using those kind of ecthants. We can avoid the acid trap in PCB.
Keep learning!!!!!!
Thank you all,
Sathya Priya N…
