Free Engineering Tool
PCB Material Selector & Comparator
Browse, filter and compare PCB laminate materials by Dk, Df, Tg, thermal decomposition temperature, CTE and moisture absorption. Real specifications from manufacturer datasheets — Shengyi, Isola, Panasonic, Rogers, and Taconic.
Material Database
Click column headers to sort. Check up to 3 materials for side-by-side comparison.
| Material | Dk ↑ | Df | Tg (°C) | Td (°C) | CTE-Z | Moisture | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rogers · RF/Microwave | 2.2 | 0.0009 | — | — | 237 ppm/°C | 0.02% | |
Isola · Ultra-Low-Loss | 3 | 0.0017 | 210 | 380 | 2.2% | 0.05% | |
Panasonic · Ultra-Low-Loss | 3.35 | 0.0030 | 200 | 410 | 2.0% | 0.06% | |
Rogers · RF/Microwave | 3.38 | 0.0027 | 280 | — | 46 ppm/°C | 0.06% | |
Panasonic · Low-Loss | 3.4 | 0.0040 | 185 | 410 | 2.4% | 0.08% | |
Rogers · RF/Microwave | 3.48 | 0.0037 | 280 | — | 32 ppm/°C | 0.06% | |
Taconic · RF/Microwave | 3.5 | 0.0018 | — | — | 24 ppm/°C | 0.05% | |
Isola I-Speed Isola · Low-Loss | 3.63 | 0.0082 | 200 | 360 | 2.6% | 0.09% | |
Isola · High-Tg | 4.04 | 0.0210 | 180 | 340 | 2.7% | 0.15% | |
S1150G (FR-4 Mid-Tg) Shengyi · Standard | 4.2 | 0.0180 | 150 | 325 | 3.0% | 0.12% | |
S1170 (FR-4 High-Tg) Shengyi · High-Tg | 4.2 | 0.0170 | 170 | 340 | 2.8% | 0.10% | |
S1141 (FR-4 Standard) Shengyi · Standard | 4.25 | 0.0190 | 140 | 310 | 3.5% | 0.15% |
Note: Values from manufacturer datasheets at standard test conditions (IPC-TM-650 where applicable). Actual performance varies with resin content, glass style, copper roughness, and measurement method. Verify specifications with your laminate supplier for production.
Selection Guide
Which material for your application?
General Digital
Dk 4.0–4.3
Consumer, industrial, IoT — cost-effective with adequate Tg for lead-free.
Common: S1141, S1150G, 370HR
High-Speed Serial
Dk 3.3–3.7
10G–112G SerDes, DDR5, PCIe Gen5/6 — low Df keeps insertion loss in budget.
Common: Megtron 6/7, I-Speed, Astra MT77
RF / Microwave
Dk 2.2–3.5
Antennas, filters, PAs, radar — stable Dk vs frequency and tight thickness.
Common: RO4350B, RO4003C, RT/5880, RF-35
High-Reliability
Tg ≥ 180°C
IPC Class 3, automotive, aerospace — high Td, low CTE-Z, multiple reflow compatible.
Common: 370HR, S1170, Megtron 6
FAQ
PCB materials, answered
How do I choose the right PCB material?
Start with signal speed. Under 5 Gbps → standard FR-4. 10–25 Gbps → mid-loss (I-Speed, Megtron 4). 25 Gbps+ → Megtron 6/7 or Astra MT77. RF above 1 GHz → Rogers or Taconic PTFE.
What is the difference between Dk and Df?
Dk sets impedance and propagation speed. Df sets insertion loss per unit length. Both matter for high-speed — but Df usually limits link budgets above 10 Gbps.
Why does Tg matter?
Above Tg, CTE increases dramatically and mechanical properties degrade. For lead-free (260°C peak), use Tg ≥ 170°C. For multiple reflow cycles, ≥ 180°C.
Can I mix materials in one stackup?
Yes — hybrid stackups use low-loss on critical signal layers and standard FR-4 elsewhere. The materials must be compatible in lamination temperature and CTE. AtlasPCB builds these routinely.
Need a specific laminate?
We stock Rogers, Megtron 6/7, 370HR and all major laminates. Upload your design for an engineer-reviewed quote with material recommendations.