LAMINATES: DK, DF AND TRACE WIDTH

What are the Dk and Df of Isola GETEK?

Isola GETEK has a dielectric constant (Dk) of 3.8 and a loss factor (Df) of 0.01 at 1 GHz, as published by its maker. A 50 ohm surface microstrip over a 0.2 mm dielectric comes out about 0.395 mm wide on it, against 0.353 mm on standard FR-4.

  • Dielectric loss on that microstrip is about 0.034 dB per inch at 1 GHz, and the signal travels at about 143 ps per inch.
  • Buried as a stripline between planes 0.4 mm apart, 50 ohms needs a trace about 0.148 mm wide.

50 ohm surface microstrip, 1 oz copper

Dielectric heightTrace width on GETEKOn standard FR-4
0.1 mm0.187 mm0.166 mm
0.2 mm0.395 mm0.353 mm
0.5 mm1.03 mm0.920 mm
1.6 mm3.36 mm3.02 mm

As published

PropertyValue
ChemistryPPE/PPO blend
Tg (°C)180 (DMA)
Dk @ 1GHz<3.8
Df @ 1GHz<0.010
Max Op Temp150°C

How this was counted

Dk and Df are the maker's published values at 1 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).