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High frequency circuit boards

The increasing complexity of electronic components and switches continually requires faster signal flow rates, and thus higher transmission frequencies. Because of short pulse rise times in electronic components, it has also become necessary for high frequency (HF) technology to view conductor widths as an electronic component.

Depending on various parameters, HF signals are reflected on circuit board, meaning that the impedance (dynamic resistance) varies with respect to the sending component. To prevent such capacitive effects, all parameters must be exactly specified, and implemented with the highest level of process control.

Critical for the impedances in high frequency circuit boards are principally the conductor trace geometry, the layer buildup, and the dielectric constant (εr) of the materials used.

Multi-CB provides you with know-how, all popular materials and qualified manufacturing processes - reliably even for complex requirements.

Rogers 4350B: Quote & Order   Send an HF enquiry

Design of HF circuit boards

Multi CB supports you starting immediately in the design phase. We help you to find appropriate substrates, dimensioning the conductor width and spacing, as well as with calculating the impedances.

Our offer for HF circuit boards:

  • HF-material (low-loss), e.g. PTFE substrate
  • Impedance controlled multilayers
  • Sandwich buildup / hybrid layer buildup for material combinations
  • Microvias strating from 75µm
  • Controlled production line / with comprehensive test certificate, as needed
  • Backdrill

 
Design-Aid

Find layout tips and all design parameters in our comprehensive Design-Aid.

Discover here

Materials used for HF circuit boards

High-frequency boards, e.g. for wireless applications and data rates in the upper GHz range have  special demands on the material used:

  • Adapted permittivity
  • Low attenuation for efficient signal transmission
  • Homogeneous construction with low tolerances in insulation thickness and dielectric constant

For many applications, it is sufficient to use FR4 material with an appropriate layer buildup. In addition, we process high-frequency materials with improved dielectric properties. These have a very low loss factor, a low dielectric constant, and are primarily temperature and frequency independent.

Additional favourable properties are high glass transition temperature, an excellent thermal durability, and very low hydrophilic rate.

We use (among others) Rogers or PTFE materials (for example, Teflon from DuPont) for impedance controlled high frequency circuit boards. Sandwich buildups for material combinations are also possible.

Material for high frequency boardsOrder shareεr, Dk-
Permittivity
Dk
Loss Tangent
TgTd ValueThermal
conductivity
CTE-z (T < TG)Electric
Strength
Surface
Resistivity
Peel Strength
 @10GHz@10GHz°C°CW/m*Kppm/°CKV/mmN/mm
Rogers 4350B
HF Material
+++3,50,0037280°390°0,6932315,7 x 10^90,9
Rogers 4003C
PTFE HF Material
++3,40,0027280°425°0,7146314,2 x 10^91,1
Panasonic Megtron6
HF Material
+3,60,004185°410°-45-1 x 10^80,8
Rogers RO3003
PTFE ceramic-filled
+3,00,0013-500°0,5025-1 x 10^72,2
Rogers RO3006
PTFE ceramic-filled
o6,20,002-500°0,7924-1 x 10^51,2
Rogers RO3010
PTFE ceramic-filled
o100,0022-500°0,9516-1 x 10^51,6
Taconic RF-35
Ceramic
o3,5**0,0018*315°-0,2464-1,5 x 10^81,8
Taconic TLX
PTFE
o2,50,0019--0,19135-1 x 10^72,1
Rogers RO3001
Bonding Film for PTFE
-2,30,003160°-0,22-981 x 10^92,1
Taconic TLC
PTFE
-3,2---0,2470-1 x 10^72,1

Complete overview of available circuit board materials

Depending on the stock on hand, the materials listed may be replaced by technically equivalent or similar products. For critical tolerances, please discuss your requirements with our engineers.

Impedance Check

The impedance defined by the customer is tested by our CAM station engineers on manufacturability. Depending on the layer buildup, the PCB layout and the customer's requested impedances a calculation model is chosen. The result is any required modification of the layer builduo and the necessary adjustments to the relevant conductor geometries.

Please also refer to our pages for impedance control of printed circuit boards.

After the manufacture of high frequency circuit boards, the impedances are checked (with a precision of up to 5%), and the detailed results are recorded exactly in a test protocol.