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Rogers Corporation's RF PCB laminates are high-performance circuit board materials specifically engineered for high-frequency applications. These materials typically exhibit outstanding dielectric properties, low loss characteristics, and excellent thermal stability, making them suitable for high-speed electronic designs, commercial microwave, and RF applications.
No.1 Dielectric Constant and Loss Factor of RF PCB Materials The dielectric constant (Dk) and loss factor (Df) of PCB materials are two critical factors influencing RF circuit performance.
The dielectric constant Dk measures a material's capacity to store electrical energy. In RF circuits, a lower dielectric constant reduces signal propagation delay and enhances transmission speed. Dk also influences circuit dimensions, as the wavelength of signals within a medium is inversely proportional to the square root of the dielectric constant. Consequently, materials with high Dk enable smaller wavelengths at a given frequency, facilitating miniaturised circuit designs. However, excessively high dielectric constants may increase insertion loss in circuits, as signal conductors become narrower and conductor losses rise. The loss factor Df quantifies a material's energy dissipation at high frequencies. A lower loss factor indicates reduced material losses and diminished signal attenuation during transmission, thereby enhancing circuit efficiency and signal integrity. In high-frequency applications, a low loss factor is particularly crucial as it directly impacts signal transmission quality and circuit reliability. Different material series exhibit distinct dielectric constants and loss factors to accommodate varied application requirements. For instance, the RO3003 material possesses a dielectric constant of 3.00 and a loss factor of 0.0010 at 10GHz, making it suitable for applications such as 77GHz radar. Conversely, RO4350B material exhibits a dielectric constant of 3.48 and a loss factor of 0.0037 at 10GHz, making it suitable for base station power amplifier designs. RO4835 material offers tenfold oxidation resistance compared to conventional thermoset materials, with a dielectric constant of 3.48 and loss factor of 0.0037, making it ideal for high-performance RF/microwave circuit design.
No.2 Rogers RF Materials Summary
Below is a summary of Rogers RF PCB materials:
1. RO4000 Series
The RO4000 series comprises Rogers' high-frequency materials, consisting of ceramic-filled thermosetting compounds engineered for precision circuit board design with operating frequencies extending to millimetre waves. Its low loss and high stability make it extensively used in microwave and millimetre-wave circuit design. Within the RO4000 series, the following variants are available based on cost and application scenarios: - RO4003C: The most common version in this series, used for wireless, aerospace, defence, and instrumentation applications. Its dielectric constant Dk is 3.38, loss factor Df is 0.0027@10GHz, and Z-axis thermal expansion coefficient is 46ppm/°C. - RO4350B: This material features a highly toleranced dielectric constant Dk design, offering superior thermal conductivity and stability, making it suitable for power circuits and heat dissipation. Its dielectric constant Dk is 3.48, loss factor Df is 0.0037@10GHz, and Z-axis thermal expansion coefficient is 32ppm/°C.
2. **RO3000 Series**: Compared to the RO4000 series, the RO3000 series offers more economical circuit materials, making them popular for cost-sensitive commercial applications. Options include: - RO3003: High-frequency material with insertion loss superior to RO3010. - RO3006: High dielectric constant and thermal conductivity for power modules. - RO3010: General-purpose microwave material with sound high-frequency performance.
3. **RT/duroid High-Frequency Materials**: RT/duroid materials are specially engineered to deliver tightly controlled electrical parameters for optimal circuit functionality. They are halogen-free. Variants include: - RT/duroid 5880: Low-loss material for high power density in millimetre-wave applications. - RT/duroid 6002: Cost-optimised microwave material with superior thermal properties compared to RO4350B. - RT/duroid 6035HTC: High thermal conductivity and low loss for power amplifiers and antennas.
4. **TMM Thermoset Microwave Materials**: The TMM series offers a range of thermoset micro-dispersed ceramic-filled materials covering a broad spectrum of dielectric constants for broadband applications. Options include TMM3, TMM4, TMM6, TMM10i, and others. Dielectric constant (Dk) and loss factor (Df) are critical parameters for RF and microwave applications in Rogers materials. For instance, the RO4350B material exhibits a stable dielectric constant DK of 3.48, with a recommended design value of 3.66, alongside exceptionally low loss factor. This confers significant advantages over conventional circuitry materials in high-frequency applications. Furthermore, the thermal expansion coefficient of Rogers materials aligns closely with copper foil, thereby mitigating the shortcomings inherent in PTFE substrates.
No.3 Applications of Rogers RF Materials
Rogers RF PCB materials deliver outstanding performance across numerous high-frequency applications, particularly in the following domains:
1.Automotive Radar (77 GHz): Rogers' RO3003™ and RO3003G2™ ceramic-filled PTFE laminates are the preferred materials for 77 GHz (76 to 81 GHz) radar antennas due to their exceptionally low insertion loss and a stable low dielectric constant over time and temperature. 2. 24 GHz automotive radar sensors: RO4835™ laminates deliver superior electrical performance and consistency for 24 GHz automotive radar antennas, offering tenfold improved oxidation resistance compared to traditional thermoset materials alongside stable low-loss characteristics. 3. 5G wireless infrastructure (millimetre wave): Rogers' high-frequency circuit materials meet the performance requirements for both external and concealed vehicle communication antennas, including Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Shared Domain Automotive Radar (SDAR), cellular, and V2X antennas. These materials are suitable for high-frequency applications in 5G communications, capable of handling wider bandwidths and higher frequencies. 4. Microwave and Millimetre-wave Frequencies: The RO4000® series leads the industry for microwave and millimetre-wave frequencies. This low-loss material offers enhanced ease of use in circuit fabrication and superior performance compared to traditional PTFE materials.
RF PCB laminates are high-performance circuit board materials.