Rogers Corporation’s AD Series antenna materials are specially engineered to meet the growing demand for high-performance solutions in the wireless antenna market. As antenna performance requirements continue to evolve, Rogers’ AD Series materials have successfully met the rigorous design standards of both current and future markets.

Key Features of AD Series Antenna Materials

The AD Series antenna materials are based on PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) glass fiber-reinforced materials, offering exceptional electrical properties that enhance antenna performance. These materials are known for their:

• Stable dielectric constant
• Ultra-low loss characteristics
• Outstanding Passive Intermodulation (PIM) performance
• Excellent processability, which helps improve the yield rate during circuit board manufacturing.

This combination of properties makes the AD Series ideal for demanding antenna applications where high performance is critical.

Dielectric Constant Options and Tolerance Control

The AD Series offers a range of dielectric constants to meet various design needs, including 2.50, 2.55, 2.60, 3.00, 3.20, and 3.50. With tight tolerance control (±0.05), the material ensures consistent performance, making it easier to achieve precise impedance matching and meet the requirements of different antenna designs.

Copper Foil Options and PIM Performance

The AD Series antenna materials provide two copper foil options: standard electrolytic copper foil (ED) and reverse copper foil. Both options are designed to reduce circuit losses and improve PIM performance. Notably, materials with reverse copper foil have demonstrated impressive PIM values, achieving:

-159 dBc at 30mil thickness

-163 dBc at 60mil thickness

These values were measured using a 50Ω microstrip transmission line with a dual-tone signal near 1900MHz, based on extensive testing by Rogers using reflection-based passive intermodulation tests.

Material Thickness Options

The AD Series offers a variety of thickness options to meet different application requirements. For instance, the AD250™ laminate has a thickness range of 10mil to 250mil, while other materials in the series may offer more limited thickness choices. For optimal material selection based on your application, it’s advisable to consult with a sales engineer or customer service representative.

Superior Performance Compared to Other PTFE-Based Materials

The AD Series outperforms many other PTFE-based composite materials in several critical areas:

• Low loss: The loss at 10GHz is typically below 0.002, ensuring minimal signal degradation.
• Low water absorption: Less than 0.1% water absorption, preventing performance issues due to moisture.
• High copper foil peel strength: Exceeds 10 pli, ensuring durability and reliability in various applications.

These advantages make the AD Series an ideal material choice for antenna applications that require high performance and durability.

Summary of Features and Benefits

• Low loss factor (<0.002 @ 10 GHz), ensuring excellent performance across all typical communication frequency bands.
• Strict dielectric constant control (±0.05) for reliable, repeatable circuit performance.
• Extremely low PIM values (-159 dBc @ 30mil, 1900 MHz), which improve antenna performance and reduce production losses.
• Excellent dimensional stability, enhancing production efficiency and yield.

Typical Applications

The AD Series is widely used in various antenna applications, including:

• Mobile cellular base station antennas
• Automotive telematics antenna systems
• Commercial satellite communication antennas