LAMINATES: DK, DF AND TRACE WIDTH
What are the Dk and Df of AGC/Taconic TLY-5?
AGC/Taconic TLY-5 has a dielectric constant (Dk) of 2.2 and a loss factor (Df) of 0.0009 at 10 GHz, as published by its maker. A 50 ohm surface microstrip over a 0.2 mm dielectric comes out about 0.580 mm wide on it, against 0.353 mm on standard FR-4.
- Rogers RT/duroid 5880 publishes the same Dk at 10 GHz; the two differ in Key Application: 77GHz radar, satellite against Satellite, military EW, test fixtures for RT/duroid 5880.
- Dielectric loss on that microstrip is about 0.024 dB per inch at 10 GHz, and the signal travels at about 115 ps per inch.
- Buried as a stripline between planes 0.4 mm apart, 50 ohms needs a trace about 0.257 mm wide.
50 ohm surface microstrip, 1 oz copper
| Dielectric height | Trace width on TLY-5 | On standard FR-4 |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1 mm | 0.277 mm | 0.166 mm |
| 0.2 mm | 0.580 mm | 0.353 mm |
| 0.5 mm | 1.50 mm | 0.920 mm |
| 1.6 mm | 4.88 mm | 3.02 mm |
As published
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Series | TLY |
| Dk @ 10GHz | 2.20 |
| Df @ 10GHz | 0.0009 |
| Key Application | 77GHz radar, satellite |
Nearest grades in the catalogue by Dk at 10 GHz
| Laminate | Dk | Df | Tg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rogers RT/duroid 5880 | 2.2 | 0.0009 | not published |
| EMC/Arlon DiClad 880 | 2.17 | 0.0009 | not published |
| Rogers AD250C | 2.5 | 0.0013 | not published |
How this was counted
Dk and Df are the maker's published values at 10 GHz, from the MPBxChange material catalogue, which keeps each source's test frequency and method. Where a maker publishes a range, the midpoint is used. Widths are solved with the Hammerstad and Jensen microstrip equations and Wadell's stripline form, for 1 oz copper, and are a starting point: Dk moves with frequency, resin content and glass style, and a fabricator's field solver is the authority. Standard FR-4 here is the median of 22 FR-4 grades in the catalogue (Dk 4.4).