Top 8 Materials for Microwave PCBs

If you’re in the market for a microwave PCB, it’s important to look at the materials that are used in these circuits. There are a variety of different materials available, and the best materials for a microwave PCB are determined by certain factors. For example, a material’s Er value should be less than 2.5, and it should have a low Df value, which indicates that it’s a good candidate for microwave applications. High-frequency materials should also have a low variation in Df.

Hydrocarbon-based materials

Hydrocarbon-based PCB materials can be a great option for microwave-frequency applications. Typically, these materials are compatible with standard FR4 PCB fabrication processes. In many cases, these PCB materials are preferred over PTFE or glass. However, the choice of material for your microwave-frequency circuitry should be based on the application’s requirements.

Glass fiber

This type of material has a number of advantages over the traditional copper-based substrates. It is flame-retardant and offers good thermal and mechanical properties. Glass fiber reinforced pcbs are among the top choices of manufacturers for many reasons.

Aluminum

Microwave pcbs are generally made from a thin layer of aluminum that is laminated to a thermal substrate. Thermal bonding materials can be used to bond the two layers together, and thermal materials can be laminated to one side or both sides of aluminum. Then, the laminated assembly is through-drilled and plated. Through holes in the aluminum substrate maintain electrical insulation.

Copper

Copper is one of the most popular materials for microwave PCBs, but there are also advantages to other materials for this type of design. For starters, it has a very low dielectric strength. This property limits the performance of microwave PCBs in certain applications. Secondly, copper has a high melting point, which makes it one of the most expensive materials for microwave PCBs.

FR-4 glass/epoxy

FR-4 glass/epoxy for PCBs is a high-frequency material used for PCBs. This material offers good electrical and mechanical specifications and is relatively stable over time. However, it has several disadvantages, including the tendency to quickly dull drill bits and cutting shears. Moreover, it is abrasive and glass splinters can be painful.

FR-5 glass/epoxy

Microwave PCBs require different metallization processes than traditional PCBs. In general, FR-4 glass/epoxy material is preferred. It is a low-cost and flame retardant material that has been the industry standard for decades.

FR-2 glass/epoxy

When choosing the material for a microwave PCB, it’s important to understand the range of properties that this material can offer. Glass/epoxy is a flexible circuit material with low dielectric losses at microwave frequencies. FR-4 is a glass fabric-reinforced laminate bonded with flame-resistant epoxy resin. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association has designated this material as UL94VO-compliant and it is a good choice for microwave PCBs.

FR-3 glass/epoxy

FR-3 glass/epoxy for the manufacture of microwave PCBs is a high-performance material that is derived from woven glass reinforced material and an epoxy resin binder. This material has exceptional mechanical properties, including resistance to high temperatures. It is also known for its low moisture absorption, chemical resistance, and immense strength. By comparison, FR-1 and FR-2 are paper-based materials with lower glass transition temperatures.