Menu
Blog

High-Frequency PCB Material Selection

At RF, the laminate is part of the circuit. Loss, phase stability and impedance all move when the substrate changes.

Hitech Circuits Engineering Desk

Shenzhen, China · PCB fabrication and assembly

2 min read

Published:

Last updated:

Technical review: Process figures checked against our published capability sheet. View capability sheet

High-Frequency PCB Material Selection

The four properties that decide

  • Dk (dielectric constant) — sets trace width for a target impedance; stability over frequency and temperature matters as much as the nominal value.
  • Df (dissipation factor) — the loss per unit length; the dominant term in insertion loss at high frequency.
  • CTE — expansion mismatch with copper and with plated holes; affects reliability of vias in thick builds.
  • Copper roughness — contributes loss as frequency rises.

What to send us

For RF work we need the target impedance and reference layer, the operating frequency band, the stackup or board thickness, and the finish. With those we confirm the laminate, the trace geometry and whether the build needs low-profile copper.

Our lines hold 0.075 mm trace and spacing, 0.1 mm laser vias and impedance tolerances of ±10% as standard, with ±5% quoted after reviewing the stackup.

Technical Specifications

Minimum trace / spacing
0.075 mm / 0.075 mm
Impedance tolerance
±10% typical, ±5% on request
Layer count
1–38 layers

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the first number to compare between RF laminates?

    Dissipation factor (Df) at your operating frequency, followed by Dk consistency over temperature and frequency. A laminate with a lower Df but poor Dk stability can produce more phase drift than a slightly lossier, more stable material.

  • Does copper roughness matter at 10 GHz?

    Yes. At high frequency the current crowds toward the copper-dielectric interface, so rough foil increases insertion loss. Low-profile copper is usually specified together with the laminate for millimetre-wave and high-GHz designs.

← Blog

Related engineering notes

Request a customer quote

Free engineering review and quote for PCB manufacturing, PCB assembly, component sourcing and box build.