RF and Microwave Laminates

RF and microwave laminates are used as substrates for radio frequency (RF) and microwave communication systems and electronics. They are designed to meet the demanding performance standards for higher-frequency applications. RF and microwave laminates are usually made of thermoplastics, thermoset resins, or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a synthetic fluoropolymer with excellent dielectric properties and an extremely low coefficient of friction. To produce multiple-layer products, PTFE is processed at very high temperatures with fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) or chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE). PTFE and woven glass can also be bonded to double-sided or multi-layer FR4, a flame retardant laminate impregnated with epoxy resin. An exact thickness-distribution of resin and glass fabric helps provide a uniform dielectric constant and dielectric loss factor. Although microwave base materials that use thermoset resins require the addition of flame retardants for UL-V0, PTFE and woven-glass products do not.