Overview
Rogers 4003C™ is a high-performance RF and microwave laminate developed by Rogers Corporation for high-frequency circuit applications requiring low dielectric loss, stable electrical properties, and cost-effective manufacturing.
Part of the industry-leading RO4000® Series, Rogers 4003C combines woven glass reinforcement with a hydrocarbon ceramic-filled thermoset resin system, providing excellent RF performance while maintaining compatibility with standard FR4 PCB fabrication processes.
Rogers 4003C is widely used in:
- RF Circuit Boards
- Microwave Systems
- 5G Infrastructure
- Satellite Communications
- Automotive Radar
- Aerospace Electronics
- High-Speed Digital Networks
- Wireless Communication Equipment
Due to its excellent balance of RF performance, manufacturability, and cost, Rogers 4003C is one of the most commonly used RF laminate materials worldwide.
Material Specification
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Material Designation | Rogers 4003C |
| Material Family | Hydrocarbon Ceramic RF Laminate |
| Product Series | RO4000® Series |
| Reinforcement | Woven Glass Fiber |
| Resin System | Hydrocarbon Thermoset |
| Filler Type | Ceramic Filled |
| Density | 1.79 g/cm³ |
| Appearance | Light Tan |
| Typical Manufacturing Methods | PCB Fabrication, CNC Machining |
| Standard Forms | Copper-Clad Laminates, Core Materials |
Material Composition
Rogers 4003C utilizes a proprietary hydrocarbon ceramic composite structure.
| Component | Function |
|---|---|
| Hydrocarbon Resin | Electrical Stability |
| Ceramic Fillers | Low Dielectric Loss |
| Glass Reinforcement | Mechanical Strength |
| Copper Foil | Circuit Formation |
The ceramic-filled resin system provides improved electrical consistency and thermal performance.
Available Rogers 4003C Variants
| Grade | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Rogers 4003C Standard | General RF Applications |
| Rogers 4003C LoPro | Low Profile Copper |
| Multilayer Stackups | RF PCB Systems |
| Hybrid FR4/Rogers Designs | Cost-Optimized RF Boards |
Mechanical Properties
Typical Values
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 250–350 MPa |
| Flexural Strength | 250–350 MPa |
| Elastic Modulus | 16–19 GPa |
| Compressive Strength | 300–450 MPa |
| Dimensional Stability | Excellent |
Mechanical Performance
| Property | Performance |
|---|---|
| Rigidity | Excellent |
| PCB Stability | Outstanding |
| Mechanical Reliability | Excellent |
| Multilayer Compatibility | Outstanding |
Rogers 4003C maintains dimensional stability during PCB fabrication and operation.
Physical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.79 g/cm³ |
| Water Absorption | 0.06% |
| Moisture Resistance | Excellent |
| Surface Stability | Excellent |
| Dimensional Stability | Outstanding |
Low moisture absorption helps preserve dielectric consistency.
Thermal Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) | >280°C |
| Decomposition Temperature (Td) | >425°C |
| Continuous Service Temperature | Up to 200°C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 0.71 W/m·K |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (X/Y) | 11–14 ppm/°C |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (Z) | 46 ppm/°C |
Rogers 4003C offers significantly improved thermal performance compared with standard FR4 materials.
Strength-to-Weight Ratio
| Material | Density (g/cm³) | Tensile Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Rogers 4003C | 1.79 | 300 MPa |
| Standard FR4 | 1.90 | 400 MPa |
| Rogers 4350B | 1.86 | 300 MPa |
| PTFE RF Laminate | 2.10 | 200 MPa |
The material offers excellent structural stability while optimizing RF performance.
Electrical Properties
Typical Values
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Dielectric Constant (Dk @ 10 GHz) | 3.38 ± 0.05 |
| Dissipation Factor (Df @ 10 GHz) | 0.0027 |
| Volume Resistivity | >10¹⁰ MΩ·cm |
| Surface Resistivity | >10⁸ MΩ |
| Dielectric Strength | >31 kV/mm |
Electrical Performance
| Property | Performance |
|---|---|
| Signal Integrity | Outstanding |
| RF Performance | Outstanding |
| Microwave Performance | Outstanding |
| High-Speed Digital Performance | Excellent |
Rogers 4003C provides lower dielectric loss than Rogers 4350B, making it particularly attractive for high-frequency applications.
High Frequency Performance
| Frequency Range | Performance |
|---|---|
| RF Applications | Outstanding |
| Microwave Applications | Outstanding |
| Millimeter-Wave Applications | Excellent |
| 5G Communications | Outstanding |
| High-Speed Digital Systems | Excellent |
The low loss tangent enables efficient signal transmission with minimal attenuation.
Thermal Management Performance
| Property | Performance |
|---|---|
| Heat Dissipation | Excellent |
| Thermal Stability | Outstanding |
| Solder Reliability | Excellent |
| Power RF Applications | Excellent |
The ceramic-filled structure improves heat dissipation compared with conventional FR4.
Moisture Resistance
| Property | Performance |
|---|---|
| Water Absorption | Very Low |
| Humidity Stability | Excellent |
| RF Stability Under Humidity | Outstanding |
| Environmental Reliability | Excellent |
Minimal moisture uptake ensures consistent RF performance in challenging environments.
Chemical Resistance
| Chemical Environment | Performance |
|---|---|
| Water | Excellent |
| Flux Chemicals | Excellent |
| Cleaning Agents | Excellent |
| Oils & Greases | Excellent |
| Industrial Chemicals | Good |
Compatible with standard PCB manufacturing and assembly processes.
Manufacturing Characteristics
| Manufacturing Process | Rating |
|---|---|
| Multilayer PCB Fabrication | Outstanding |
| CNC Drilling | Excellent |
| PCB Routing | Excellent |
| SMT Assembly | Outstanding |
| Lead-Free Assembly | Outstanding |
Rogers 4003C can be processed using standard FR4 PCB manufacturing equipment.
Machinability
| Process | Rating |
|---|---|
| CNC Milling | Excellent |
| Drilling | Excellent |
| Laser Processing | Good |
| Precision PCB Fabrication | Outstanding |
Its FR4-compatible processing reduces manufacturing complexity and costs.
International Standards
| Standard | Compliance |
|---|---|
| IPC-4103 | Yes |
| RoHS | Compliant |
| REACH | Compliant |
| UL 94 | V-0 |
| Lead-Free Assembly | Compatible |
Available Forms
| Product Type | Availability |
|---|---|
| Copper-Clad Laminate | Yes |
| Core Material | Yes |
| RF PCB Substrate | Yes |
| Multilayer PCB Material | Yes |
| High-Speed PCB Panels | Yes |
Typical Applications
Telecommunications
- 5G Base Stations
- RF Power Amplifiers
- Antenna Systems
- Wireless Infrastructure
Aerospace Industry
- Satellite Communications
- Navigation Systems
- RF Modules
- Avionics Electronics
Defense Industry
- Radar Systems
- Electronic Warfare Equipment
- RF Communication Platforms
Automotive Electronics
- 77 GHz Radar
- ADAS Systems
- Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Communications
Medical Electronics
- Wireless Diagnostic Equipment
- RF Medical Devices
- Imaging Systems
Industrial Electronics
- High-Speed Networking
- RF Sensors
- Wireless Monitoring Systems
Advantages
Ultra-Low Dielectric Loss
Lower loss tangent than many competing RF laminates.
Stable Dielectric Constant
Excellent electrical consistency across frequency ranges.
FR4-Compatible Manufacturing
Reduces PCB fabrication complexity and cost.
Excellent Thermal Stability
Supports demanding RF and microwave environments.
Low Moisture Absorption
Maintains RF performance in humid conditions.
Cost-Effective RF Solution
Offers excellent RF performance at a lower cost than PTFE-based laminates.
Limitations
Higher Cost Than FR4
More expensive than standard PCB substrates.
Not the Lowest-Loss RF Material
PTFE-based laminates may outperform Rogers 4003C at extremely high frequencies.
Requires RF Design Expertise
Proper stackup and impedance control are critical.
Limited Availability Compared with FR4
Lead times may be longer than standard PCB materials.
Comparison with PCB Materials
| Property | Rogers 4003C | Rogers 4350B | Standard FR4 | PTFE Laminate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dielectric Constant | 3.38 | 3.48 | 4.3–4.8 | 2.1–2.6 |
| Loss Tangent | 0.0027 | 0.0037 | 0.015–0.025 | 0.0009–0.002 |
| RF Performance | Outstanding | Outstanding | Poor | Outstanding |
| Thermal Stability | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Cost | High | High | Low | Very High |
Comparison with Rogers 4350B
| Property | Rogers 4003C | Rogers 4350B |
|---|---|---|
| Dielectric Constant (Dk) | Lower | |
| Loss Tangent (Df) | Lower | |
| Thermal Conductivity | Higher | |
| Multilayer Reliability | Good | |
| Thermal Expansion Control | Slightly Lower |
Rogers 4003C is often selected when minimizing RF loss is the primary objective, while Rogers 4350B is preferred when superior thermal-mechanical stability is required.
Available Surface Finishes
Standard Finishes
- Copper-Clad Surface
- Low Profile Copper
- RF PCB Surface
Functional Finishes
- Microwave Optimized Surface
- High-Speed Digital Surface
- Low-Loss RF Surface
Specialty Configurations
- Rogers 4003C Standard
- Rogers 4003C LoPro
- Hybrid Rogers-FR4 Stackups
- Multilayer RF PCB Systems
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Rogers 4003C?
Rogers 4003C is a low-loss hydrocarbon ceramic RF laminate designed for microwave, RF, millimeter-wave, and high-speed digital PCB applications.
What is Rogers 4003C used for?
Typical applications include:
- 5G Infrastructure
- Radar Systems
- RF Amplifiers
- Satellite Communications
- High-Speed Networking
What is the dielectric constant of Rogers 4003C?
The dielectric constant (Dk) is approximately 3.38 at 10 GHz.
Why choose Rogers 4003C over FR4?
Because it offers lower signal loss, better RF performance, more stable dielectric properties, and superior high-frequency reliability.
Is Rogers 4003C suitable for multilayer PCBs?
Yes. It is widely used in multilayer RF and microwave PCB designs.
Why choose Rogers 4003C?
Because it combines:
- Low Dielectric Loss
- Stable RF Performance
- Excellent Thermal Stability
- FR4-Compatible Processing
- Cost-Effective RF Performance
What is the difference between Rogers 4003C and Rogers 4350B?
Rogers 4003C offers lower dielectric constant and lower loss tangent, while Rogers 4350B provides enhanced thermal-mechanical performance and improved multilayer reliability.
Does GCNOV provide Rogers 4003C manufacturing services?
Yes. GCNOV provides:
- Rogers 4003C PCB Fabrication Support
- RF PCB Manufacturing
- High-Frequency PCB Prototyping
- CNC Machining Services
- Prototype Development
- Low-Volume Production
- Mass Production