Overview
Rogers 4350B™ is a high-frequency, low-loss, thermoset hydrocarbon ceramic-filled laminate developed by Rogers Corporation for RF, microwave, millimeter-wave, and high-speed digital circuit applications.
Unlike conventional FR4 materials, Rogers 4350B offers significantly lower dielectric loss, excellent signal integrity, superior thermal stability, and highly consistent electrical performance across a broad frequency range. It is widely regarded as one of the industry’s leading materials for RF PCB design.
Rogers 4350B is widely used in:
- 5G Infrastructure
- RF Antennas
- Microwave Circuits
- Aerospace Electronics
- Defense Systems
- Satellite Communications
- Radar Systems
- High-Speed Digital Networks
Due to its combination of low dielectric loss and FR4-compatible processing, Rogers 4350B has become one of the most widely adopted RF PCB materials worldwide.
Material Specification
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Material Designation | Rogers 4350B |
| Material Family | Hydrocarbon Ceramic Laminate |
| Reinforcement | Woven Glass Fiber |
| Resin System | Thermoset Hydrocarbon |
| Filler Type | Ceramic Filled |
| Density | 1.86 g/cm³ |
| Appearance | Light Tan |
| Typical Manufacturing Methods | PCB Fabrication, CNC Machining |
| Standard Forms | Copper-Clad Laminates, Core Materials |
Material Composition
Rogers 4350B combines hydrocarbon resin technology with ceramic fillers.
| Component | Function |
|---|---|
| Hydrocarbon Resin | Electrical Stability |
| Ceramic Fillers | Low Loss & Thermal Performance |
| Glass Reinforcement | Mechanical Stability |
| Copper Cladding | Circuit Formation |
The ceramic-filled structure provides excellent electrical consistency and dimensional stability.
Available Rogers 4350B Variants
| Grade | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Rogers 4350B | Standard RF Laminate |
| Rogers 4450F | Bonding Film Companion Material |
| Rogers 4350B LoPro | Low Profile Copper Version |
| Multi-Layer Configurations | High Frequency PCB Systems |
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 |
| Mechanical Reliability | Excellent |
| PCB Stability | Outstanding |
| Multilayer Compatibility | Outstanding |
Rogers 4350B provides excellent structural stability for precision RF applications.
Physical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.86 g/cm³ |
| Water Absorption | 0.06% |
| Moisture Resistance | Excellent |
| Surface Stability | Outstanding |
| Dimensional Stability | Excellent |
Very low moisture absorption helps maintain RF performance in humid environments.
Thermal Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) | >280°C |
| Decomposition Temperature (Td) | >390°C |
| Continuous Service Temperature | Up to 200°C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 0.62 W/m·K |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (X/Y) | 11–14 ppm/°C |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (Z) | 32 ppm/°C |
Rogers 4350B offers significantly better thermal stability than conventional FR4.
Strength-to-Weight Ratio
| Material | Density (g/cm³) | Tensile Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Rogers 4350B | 1.86 | 300 MPa |
| Standard FR4 | 1.90 | 400 MPa |
| High Tg FR4 | 1.90 | 450 MPa |
| PTFE RF Laminate | 2.10 | 200 MPa |
While mechanical strength is slightly lower than FR4, Rogers 4350B provides vastly superior RF performance.
Electrical Properties
Typical Values
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Dielectric Constant (Dk @ 10 GHz) | 3.48 ± 0.05 |
| Dissipation Factor (Df @ 10 GHz) | 0.0037 |
| 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 |
These electrical properties are the primary reason engineers choose Rogers 4350B over FR4.
High Frequency Performance
| Frequency Range | Performance |
|---|---|
| RF Applications | Outstanding |
| Microwave Applications | Outstanding |
| Millimeter Wave Applications | Excellent |
| 5G Applications | Outstanding |
| High-Speed Digital Systems | Excellent |
Rogers 4350B is specifically optimized for high-frequency signal transmission.
Thermal Management Performance
| Property | Performance |
|---|---|
| Heat Dissipation | Excellent |
| Thermal Stability | Outstanding |
| Solder Reliability | Excellent |
| Power Electronics Suitability | Excellent |
The ceramic filler system enhances thermal conductivity compared with conventional FR4.
Moisture Resistance
| Property | Performance |
|---|---|
| Water Absorption | Very Low |
| Humidity Stability | Excellent |
| RF Stability Under Humidity | Outstanding |
| Environmental Reliability | Excellent |
Low moisture absorption minimizes dielectric drift in challenging environments.
Chemical Resistance
| Chemical Environment | Performance |
|---|---|
| Water | Excellent |
| Flux Chemicals | Excellent |
| Cleaning Agents | Excellent |
| Oils & Greases | Excellent |
| Industrial Chemicals | Good |
Suitable for standard PCB manufacturing and assembly processes.
Manufacturing Characteristics
| Manufacturing Process | Rating |
|---|---|
| Multilayer PCB Fabrication | Outstanding |
| CNC Drilling | Excellent |
| PCB Routing | Excellent |
| Lead-Free Assembly | Outstanding |
| SMT Compatibility | Outstanding |
One of the key advantages of Rogers 4350B is its compatibility with standard FR4 manufacturing processes.
Machinability
| Process | Rating |
|---|---|
| CNC Milling | Excellent |
| Drilling | Excellent |
| Laser Processing | Good |
| Precision PCB Fabrication | Outstanding |
Manufacturing processes are very similar to traditional FR4 PCB production.
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 |
| Multilayer PCB Material | Yes |
| RF PCB Panels | Yes |
| High-Speed PCB Substrate | Yes |
Typical Applications
Telecommunications
- 5G Base Stations
- RF Power Amplifiers
- Antenna Systems
- Network Infrastructure
Aerospace Industry
- Avionics Systems
- Satellite Electronics
- Communication Modules
- Radar Systems
Defense Industry
- Electronic Warfare Systems
- Radar Equipment
- Secure Communications
- RF Signal Processing
Automotive Electronics
- Automotive Radar
- ADAS Systems
- Vehicle Communications
- Connected Vehicle Electronics
Medical Electronics
- RF Imaging Systems
- Wireless Medical Devices
- Diagnostic Equipment
Industrial Electronics
- High-Speed Data Systems
- RF Monitoring Equipment
- Industrial Wireless Networks
Advantages
Low Dielectric Loss
Excellent signal transmission with minimal attenuation.
Stable Dielectric Constant
Predictable RF performance across frequency ranges.
High Thermal Stability
Suitable for demanding thermal environments.
FR4-Compatible Processing
Reduces manufacturing complexity and cost.
Excellent Moisture Resistance
Maintains performance in humid environments.
Proven RF Industry Standard
Widely used in aerospace, defense, telecommunications, and high-speed electronics.
Limitations
Higher Cost Than FR4
Significantly more expensive than standard PCB materials.
Overkill for Low-Speed Electronics
Not necessary for conventional digital PCB applications.
More Complex PCB Design Requirements
Requires RF design expertise to maximize performance.
Lower Availability Than FR4
May have longer procurement lead times.
Comparison with PCB Materials
| Property | Rogers 4350B | Standard FR4 | High Tg FR4 | PTFE Laminate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dielectric Constant Stability | Outstanding | Good | Good | Outstanding |
| Loss Tangent | Outstanding | Moderate | Moderate | Outstanding |
| RF Performance | Outstanding | Poor | Moderate | Outstanding |
| Thermal Stability | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Cost | High | Low | Moderate | Very High |
Comparison with Standard FR4
| Property | Rogers 4350B | Standard FR4 |
|---|---|---|
| RF Performance | Much Better | |
| Signal Loss | Much Lower | |
| Thermal Stability | Better | |
| Moisture Stability | Better | |
| Cost | Higher |
For RF and microwave circuits, Rogers 4350B significantly outperforms standard FR4.
Available Surface Finishes
Standard Finishes
- Copper-Clad Surface
- Low Profile Copper
- Standard PCB Surface
Functional Finishes
- RF Optimized Surface
- Microwave Grade Surface
- High-Speed Digital Surface
Specialty Configurations
- Rogers 4350B
- Rogers 4350B LoPro
- Multilayer RF Stackups
- High-Frequency PCB Systems
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Rogers 4350B?
Rogers 4350B is a low-loss hydrocarbon ceramic-filled RF laminate designed for microwave, RF, and high-speed digital PCB applications.
What is Rogers 4350B used for?
Typical applications include:
- 5G Infrastructure
- Radar Systems
- RF Amplifiers
- Satellite Communications
- Aerospace Electronics
Why is Rogers 4350B better than FR4 for RF applications?
Because it offers a lower loss tangent, more stable dielectric constant, better signal integrity, and superior high-frequency performance.
Is Rogers 4350B suitable for multilayer PCBs?
Yes. It is widely used in multilayer RF and microwave PCB designs.
Is Rogers 4350B compatible with lead-free assembly?
Yes. It supports modern lead-free PCB manufacturing processes.
Why choose Rogers 4350B?
Because it combines:
- Low Dielectric Loss
- Stable Dk Performance
- Excellent Thermal Stability
- RF Optimization
- Manufacturing Compatibility
What is the difference between Rogers 4350B and PTFE laminates?
Rogers 4350B offers easier processing and FR4-compatible fabrication, while PTFE materials may provide even lower RF losses but require more specialized manufacturing.
Does GCNOV provide Rogers 4350B manufacturing services?
Yes. GCNOV provides:
- Rogers 4350B PCB Fabrication Support
- RF PCB Manufacturing
- CNC Machining Services
- Precision Electronic Components
- Prototype Development
- Low-Volume Production
- Mass Production