Important information regarding substrates for flexible LED strips

You likely consider the colour temperature, the number of LEDs, and the power supply compatibility when comparing different types of flexible LED strips. Have you thought about the mounting and connection of the LEDs, though? Today, we'll examine the substrate of the LED strips in detail, as well as how the quality of the materials and certain often-overlooked characteristics can impact the performance of the strips.

In what ways is the substrate of the LED strip used?

The circuit board that holds the LED chips is called the LED strip substrate. The substrate not only serves as the structural foundation of the LED strip, but it also acts as an electrical source thanks to its electronics and an essential conduit for heat dissipation.
Substratum for flexible LED strips: construction and materials
The 16-foot reels of flexible substrate LED strip are the most common. As a substrate type, flexible printed circuit technology is widely employed (FPC). For a while now, there have been flexible electronics. These are great for electronics with small or curved surfaces.
By making use of the same characteristics of the substrate, flexible LED strips are able to build on this already existing technology. Polyimide, or PI as it is more often known, is the material of choice for them.
The remarkable flexibility and heat resistance of polyimides is matched by their exceptional endurance. Because of its structural integrity and flexibility, polyimide is an essential material for LED strips.
Using a specialised flexible glue, the process begins with a copper base circuit layer, and then continues with one core layer and two outer layers of polyimide polymer. The "coverlay," the term for these outer polyimide layers, comes in a rainbow of hues. To maximise reflection, white is usually the colour of choice.
The structural stability and protection of the copper layer are provided by the three layers of polyimide. But in order for the LEDs and other parts to make electrical contact, there are tiny spots where the copper has to stay exposed.
The last step is to cover the LED strip's back with double-sided tape. The double-sided adhesive most often used for this purpose is 3M 200MP.
 

The amount of copper matters

Choosing copper is an important part of making an electronic circuit. While there is a lot of standardisation in the quality and purity of copper used in electrical circuits, the thickness can vary greatly. Although ounces (oz) are a measure of thickness, they are most commonly used to talk about how thick a copper layer is. This is because the technical definition is based on how many ounces of copper it would take to get a given thickness across one square foot.
Keep an eye on the copper thickness while shopping for LED strip lights. At the very least, you'll need 2.0 ounces, and preferably 3.0 ounces or more, for high-power LED strips. Thick copper is superior, all else being equal, due to the following reasons:

The circuitry of the LED strip may conduct more electricity with thicker copper. When there isn't enough copper, heat builds up and electrical resistance increases, which causes the voltage to drop and maybe the LEDs to die before their time.
Copper that is thicker allows heat to be dissipated more quickly. The efficiency and longevity of LEDs are directly proportional to how quickly their heat is dissipated into the surrounding air. Since copper is a great heat conductor, a thicker coating will greatly aid in dissipating the heat generated by the LEDs.
 

The ability of flexible LED strips to dissipate heat is low.

A major drawback of flexible LED strip substrates is their subpar thermal performance. Kapton (polyimide) has a thermal conductivity of 0.12 W/m-K, while the adhesive substance from 3M has a value of 0.18 W/m-K.
In contrast, the thermal conductivity of copper is 385 W/m-K and that of aluminium is 205 W/m-K; the dielectric layer in PCBs with metal cores can achieve 2.0 W/m-K. With well-planned thermal vias, the thermal conductivity of a two-layer FR-4 PCB can be practically disregarded, since heat can be sent straight to the copper on the backside.
Not much can be done, however the majority of LED strip goods are made to avoid overheating. You might not be able to run the LED strips as aggressively as you'd want because the heat won't be able to escape fast enough. This is like a Ferrari engine with a weak radiator that prevents it from reaching its maximum performance.

Considering is the greatest approach to deal with heat problems. While this would greatly enhance your thermal performance, it will sadly force you to sacrifice the flexibility feature.