Electrical properties of thin-film resistors in a wide temperature range

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to characterize electrical properties of nickel-phosphorus (Ni-P) thin-film resistors made on FR-4 laminate in a wide range of temperature (from −180 to 20°C).

Design/methodology/approach

The study was performed using resistors made of Ni-P foil with two different thicknesses (0.1 or 0.05 μm) and sheet resistances (100 or 250 Ω/sq), respectively. The resistance rectangular resistors had length and width from the range between 0.59 and 5.91 mm. The resistance versus temperature characteristics and their distribution as well as resistors ' durability to low-temperature thermal shocks were investigated.

Findings

The results showed almost linear temperature dependence of resistance with a negative temperature coefficient of resistance of about −95 ppm/°C for 250 Ω/sq layer and −55 ppm/°C for 100 Ω/sq layer. A very small dimensional effect was observed for sheet resistance as well as for R(T) characteristic. Thin-film resistors are also characterized by very high durability to low-temperature thermal shocks.

Originality/value

The results presented in this paper can be very useful for low-temperature applications of thin-film resistors made on printed circuit boards. They suggest possibility of wide applications of these components in a wide temperature range.

Citation

Winiarski, P., Kłossowicz, A., Wróblewski, J., Dziedzic, A. and Stęplewski, W. (2015), "Electrical properties of thin-film resistors in a wide temperature range", Circuit World, Vol. 41 No. 3, pp. 116-120. https://doi.org/10.1108/CW-03-2015-0010