LAMINATES: DK, DF AND TRACE WIDTH

What are the Dk and Df of Panasonic R-1566(W)?

Panasonic R-1566(W) has a dielectric constant (Dk) of 4.6 and a loss factor (Df) of 0.012 at 1 GHz, as published by its maker. A 50 ohm surface microstrip over a 0.2 mm dielectric comes out about 0.340 mm wide on it, against 0.353 mm on standard FR-4.

  • Shengyi S1000H publishes the same Dk at 1 GHz; the two differ in Df: 0.012 against 0.011 for S1000H.
  • Dielectric loss on that microstrip is about 0.045 dB per inch at 1 GHz, and the signal travels at about 154 ps per inch.
  • Buried as a stripline between planes 0.4 mm apart, 50 ohms needs a trace about 0.117 mm wide.

50 ohm surface microstrip, 1 oz copper

Dielectric heightTrace width on R-1566(W)On standard FR-4
0.1 mm0.160 mm0.166 mm
0.2 mm0.340 mm0.353 mm
0.5 mm0.889 mm0.920 mm
1.6 mm2.92 mm3.02 mm

As published

PropertyValue
Tg (°C)148 (DSC)
Td (°C)350
Dk @ 1GHz4.6
Df @ 1GHz0.012
Z-CTE (ppm/°C)40
IPC-4101IPC-4101/94
Lead-FreeYes
Halogen-FreeYes

Nearest grades in the catalogue by Dk at 1 GHz

LaminateDkDfTg
Shengyi S1000H4.60.011155 (DSC)
Shengyi S11414.60.015140 (DSC)
ITEQ IT1584.60.016155

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).