FR-4 PCB Materials

Most printed circuit boards are manufactured using glass-reinforced epoxy laminate as the substrate. While there are a wide variety of laminates available on the market, FR-4 is both versatile and well-accepted as a standard material for PCB manufacture. FR-4 functions well as an electrical insulator, and has a good strength-to-weight ratio, and is flame resistant.

The standard FR-4 material that is used in our products is a high temperature, high T_d, low CTE 150T_g material. 

If a higher T_g material is required, we do stock a 170T_g version of our standard FR-4 material as well, that can be selected in the quoting process. 

Note: The 170T_g FR-4 material has equivalency for electrical and mechanical properties with the popular Isola 370HR material, and functions very similarly. There is one documented physical difference, Isola's 370HR is listed as a 180T_g material.    

Sunstone's Standard FR-4 Material Properties

• High Glass Transition Temperature (T_g) (150T_g or 170T_g)
• High Decomposition Temperature (T_d) (> 345º C)
• Low Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) ((2.5%-3.8%)
• Dielectric Constant (@1 GHz): 4.25-4.55
• Dissipation Factor (@ 1 GHz): 0.016
• UL rated (94V-0, CTI = 3 minimum)
• Compatible with standard and lead-free assembly.
• Laminate thickness available from 0.005” to 0.125”
• Pre-preg thicknesses available (approximate after lamination):
  
  • (1080 glass style) 0.0022”
  • (2116 glass style) 0.0042”
  • (7628 glass style) 0.0075”