Isola to show unique RF and microwave circuit materials

At the European Microwave Exhibition in London, Isola will be providing guidance on the best use of its advanced circuit materials for printed circuit boards. Isola’s material experts and sales professionals, including new addition Jim Francey, will welcome visitors to learn about the optimum circuit material choices for applications in variety of markets.

Isola will highlight its unique circuit materials for high-speed-digital (HSD) and RF/microwave circuits, including materials that provide “freedom of design” in challenging automotive and military radar applications, such as Astra® MT77. It provides excellent thermal stability at high temperatures and power levels with a low dielectric constant (Dk) of 3.00 at 10 GHz. Its low loss is denoted by a dissipation factor (Df) of only 0.0017 at 10 GHz. Another circuit material with low loss at RF/microwave frequencies, I-Tera® MT40 (RF/MW), available with Dk values of 3.38 / 3.45 / 3.60 or 3.75 at 10 GHz and Df as low as 0.0028. Astra® MT77 and I-Tera® MT40 are well suited for emerging millimeter-wave (mmWave) circuit applications, such as in 5G wireless networks and automotive radars. Both are FR-4 process compatible for ease of circuit fabrication.

For circuit fabricators seeking environmentally safe solutions, Isola will show its standard TerraGreen® and higher-frequency TerraGreen® 400G (RF/MW) circuit materials. Both are halogen-free circuit materials, with little or no halogens, such as chlorine or bromine, which can form hazardous materials if a PCB is overheated or on fire. Especially for RF/microwave applications, TerraGreen® (RF/MW) circuit materials feature a stable Dk with temperature, holding to 3.45 at 2, 5, and 10 GHz and temperatures from -55 to +125°C with low Df of 0.0032 at 2, 5, and 10 GHz. The halogen-free RF/microwave circuit materials are RoHS-compliant for lead-free processes and can be used in mmWave circuits to 110 GHz.

In addition, at the European Microwave Exhibition, Isola’s representatives will explain how IS680/IS680AG laminates provide sound starting points for RF/microwave circuits in both commercial and military/aerospace RF/microwave applications. Available with a wide range of copper weights the laminates exhibit Dk values of typically 2.80 to 3.45 with Df from 0.0025 to 0.0035 from 2 to 10 GHz and maintain stable Dk and Df from -55 to +125°C.