RCC Materials Material Guide

Overview

RCC Materials, short for Resin Coated Copper Materials, are advanced PCB substrate materials consisting of a thin copper foil coated with a specially formulated dielectric resin layer. RCC materials are widely used in HDI (High Density Interconnect) PCBs, semiconductor substrates, mobile devices, and advanced electronic packaging applications.

Unlike conventional copper-clad laminates (CCL), RCC materials eliminate the need for traditional fiberglass reinforcement layers, enabling thinner PCB constructions, finer circuitry, improved laser microvia formation, and higher interconnect density.

RCC materials are widely used in:

  • HDI PCBs
  • Smartphones
  • Tablets
  • Wearable Electronics
  • Semiconductor Packaging
  • AI Computing Hardware
  • Automotive Electronics
  • High-Speed Communication Equipment

Due to their ultra-thin structure and excellent processability, RCC materials are a critical technology for next-generation miniaturized electronic products.


Material Specification

PropertyValue
Material DesignationRCC
Full NameResin Coated Copper
Material FamilyHDI Build-Up Material
StructureCopper Foil + Resin Layer
Typical Thickness12–100 μm
Dielectric Constant (Dk)3.0–4.2
Dissipation Factor (Df)0.003–0.020
Manufacturing MethodSequential Lamination
Standard FormsRCC Sheets, Build-Up Layers

Material Structure

RCC materials consist of a copper foil directly coated with a dielectric resin system.

LayerFunction
Copper FoilElectrical Conductor
Resin CoatingDielectric Insulation
Laser MicroviasInterlayer Connection
Build-Up LayersHDI Structure Formation

The elimination of woven glass fibers allows superior laser drilling performance and finer circuit geometries.


Common RCC Material Types

TypeCharacteristics
Standard RCCGeneral HDI Applications
Low Loss RCCHigh-Speed Digital Systems
Halogen-Free RCCEnvironmentally Friendly Designs
High Tg RCCEnhanced Thermal Reliability
Semiconductor RCCIC Substrate Applications
Ultra-Thin RCCMobile Devices & Wearables

Resin Systems Used in RCC

Resin TypeCharacteristics
Epoxy ResinStandard HDI Applications
Modified EpoxyImproved Thermal Performance
BT ResinIC Packaging
Low-Loss ResinHigh-Speed Signal Transmission
Halogen-Free ResinGreen Electronics

Different resin systems are selected based on electrical, thermal, and reliability requirements.


Mechanical Properties

Typical Values

PropertyValue
Tensile Strength50–150 MPa
Elastic Modulus2–8 GPa
Peel StrengthExcellent
Dimensional StabilityExcellent
Via ReliabilityOutstanding

Mechanical Performance

PropertyPerformance
Layer AdhesionExcellent
Thermal Cycling ReliabilityExcellent
Mechanical StabilityExcellent
Build-Up Layer IntegrityOutstanding

RCC materials are specifically engineered for multilayer HDI constructions.


Physical Properties

PropertyValue
Density1.1–1.8 g/cm³
Moisture AbsorptionVery Low
Surface SmoothnessExcellent
FlatnessOutstanding
Dimensional StabilityExcellent

The smooth resin surface enables ultra-fine circuit fabrication.


Thermal Properties

PropertyValue
Glass Transition Temperature (Tg)150–220°C
Decomposition Temperature (Td)>300°C
Continuous Service Temperature130–180°C
Lead-Free Assembly CompatibilityExcellent
Thermal Expansion ControlGood

Modern RCC materials are designed to withstand multiple lead-free solder reflow cycles.


Electrical Properties

Typical Values

PropertyValue
Dielectric Constant (Dk)3.0–4.2
Dissipation Factor (Df)0.003–0.020
Volume Resistivity>10¹⁴ Ω·cm
Surface Resistivity>10¹³ Ω
Dielectric StrengthExcellent

Electrical Performance

PropertyPerformance
Signal IntegrityExcellent
High-Speed Digital PerformanceExcellent
Impedance ControlExcellent
Crosstalk SuppressionExcellent

Low-loss RCC grades support modern high-speed digital and networking applications.


Laser Drilling Performance

PropertyPerformance
Laser DrillabilityOutstanding
Microvia AccuracyOutstanding
Via Wall QualityExcellent
Stacked Via CompatibilityExcellent

RCC materials are optimized for laser microvia formation used in HDI PCB manufacturing.


Thermal Reliability

PropertyPerformance
Thermal Shock ResistanceExcellent
Delamination ResistanceExcellent
Via Fatigue ResistanceOutstanding
Long-Term ReliabilityExcellent

These characteristics make RCC suitable for demanding electronics applications.


Moisture Resistance

PropertyPerformance
Water AbsorptionVery Low
Humidity ResistanceExcellent
Electrical StabilityExcellent
Environmental ReliabilityExcellent

Low moisture absorption contributes to stable electrical performance.


Manufacturing Characteristics

Manufacturing ProcessRating
Sequential LaminationOutstanding
Laser DrillingOutstanding
HDI PCB FabricationOutstanding
Fine Line Circuit ProcessingOutstanding
Semiconductor PackagingExcellent

RCC is one of the most widely used materials in HDI build-up technology.


International Standards

StandardCompliance
IPC-4101Applicable
IPC-6016Applicable
RoHSCompliant
REACHCompliant
UL CertificationAvailable

Available Forms

Product TypeAvailability
RCC SheetsYes
HDI Build-Up LayersYes
Semiconductor Substrate MaterialsYes
Ultra-Thin Copper StructuresYes
High-Speed RCC MaterialsYes

Typical Applications

Consumer Electronics

  • Smartphones
  • Tablets
  • Smart Watches
  • Wireless Earbuds

HDI PCB Manufacturing

  • High-Density PCBs
  • Fine Pitch Electronics
  • Miniaturized Circuit Boards

Semiconductor Packaging

  • IC Substrates
  • Advanced Packaging
  • Chiplet Architectures
  • AI Processors

Automotive Electronics

  • ADAS Systems
  • Radar Modules
  • EV Electronics
  • Automotive Controllers

Telecommunications

  • 5G Infrastructure
  • High-Speed Networking
  • Optical Communication Equipment

Data Centers

  • AI Servers
  • GPU Modules
  • High-Performance Computing Platforms

Advantages

Ultra-Thin Structure

Enables thinner and lighter electronic products.

Excellent Laser Drillability

Supports reliable microvia formation.

High Routing Density

Allows finer traces and increased interconnect density.

Improved Signal Performance

Suitable for high-speed digital systems.

Excellent Manufacturing Efficiency

Compatible with advanced HDI production processes.

Supports Product Miniaturization

Critical for modern portable electronics.


Limitations

Higher Material Cost

More expensive than conventional PCB laminates.

Specialized Manufacturing Requirements

Requires advanced HDI fabrication equipment.

Lower Mechanical Rigidity

Compared with fiberglass-reinforced laminates.

Limited Structural Support

Generally used as build-up layers rather than core materials.


Comparison with PCB Material Technologies

PropertyRCC MaterialsStandard FR4ABFBuild-Up Film
ThicknessUltra-ThinThickUltra-ThinThin
Laser DrillabilityOutstandingModerateOutstandingOutstanding
HDI CompatibilityOutstandingLimitedOutstandingOutstanding
Routing DensityOutstandingModerateOutstandingExcellent
CostHighLowVery HighHigh

Comparison with Traditional Copper-Clad Laminates

PropertyRCC MaterialsTraditional CCL
ThicknessThinner
HDI CapabilityBetter
Microvia FormationBetter
Fine Line ProcessingBetter
Miniaturization SupportBetter

RCC materials are specifically designed for HDI and advanced packaging applications.


Available Surface Finishes

Standard Finishes

  • Copper Foil Surface
  • Smooth Resin Surface
  • Ultra-Thin Copper Finish

Functional Finishes

  • HDI Build-Up Surface
  • Semiconductor Substrate Surface
  • Fine Line Circuit Surface

Specialty Configurations

  • Standard RCC
  • High Tg RCC
  • Low Loss RCC
  • Semiconductor RCC
  • Ultra-Thin RCC

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is RCC Material?

RCC (Resin Coated Copper) is a copper foil coated with a dielectric resin layer used in HDI PCB and semiconductor substrate manufacturing.

What is RCC used for?

Typical applications include:

  • HDI PCBs
  • Smartphones
  • Semiconductor Packaging
  • AI Hardware
  • Automotive Electronics

Why use RCC instead of traditional laminates?

RCC enables thinner structures, finer traces, better microvia performance, and higher routing density.

Is RCC suitable for HDI PCBs?

Yes. RCC is one of the most commonly used materials in HDI PCB manufacturing.

Can RCC be laser drilled?

Yes. RCC materials are specifically optimized for laser microvia formation.

Why choose RCC Materials?

Because they provide:

  • Ultra-Thin Structures
  • Excellent Laser Drillability
  • High Routing Density
  • HDI Compatibility
  • Superior Miniaturization Capability

What is the difference between RCC and ABF?

RCC is commonly used in HDI PCB build-up layers, while ABF is primarily used in advanced semiconductor package substrates.

Does GCNOV provide RCC PCB manufacturing services?

Yes. GCNOV provides:

  • HDI PCB Manufacturing
  • RCC Material Processing
  • Microvia PCB Fabrication
  • Semiconductor Substrate Support
  • High-Speed PCB Solutions
  • Prototype Development
  • Low-Volume Production
  • Mass Production