F4B Materials for RF & Microwave PCB Applications
F4B materials are practical high frequency PCB materials used in RF, microwave, antenna, communication, and industrial electronic projects. They offer a balanced option for projects that require stable electrical performance, low signal loss, and practical production efficiency.
What Are F4B Materials?
F4B is a PTFE-based high frequency laminate manufactured by Wangling (旺灵) in China. It offers a cost-effective alternative to imported Rogers and Taconic PTFE materials while maintaining comparable dielectric performance for RF, microwave, antenna and communication PCB applications. The F4B series covers Dk values from 2.20 to 6.15 and Df as low as 0.0010, making it suitable for a wide range of high frequency designs.
Compared with standard FR4 (Df ~0.02), F4B materials provide significantly lower signal loss and more stable dielectric constant across frequency and temperature. Standard thicknesses from 0.127mm to 3.0mm are available, with custom thicknesses on request.
F4B Series Overview
- Dk range: 2.20 – 6.15
- Df as low as 0.0010 (F4BM220)
- Thickness: 0.127mm – 3.0mm standard
- PTFE-based, lower cost than Rogers
- Suitable for RF, antenna, microwave PCB
- Prototype and batch production supported
F4B Material Series — DK & Df Reference
The F4B series offers multiple grades covering different Dk values. Select the grade that matches your working frequency, impedance requirement and application environment.
| Model | Dk (Dielectric Constant) | Df (Dissipation Factor) | Standard Thickness (mm) | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F4BM220 | 2.20 ±0.04 | 0.0010 | 0.127 / 0.254 / 0.508 / 0.762 / 1.016 / 1.524 / 2.0 / 3.0 | Low-loss RF circuits, antenna PCB, wireless communication modules |
| F4BM255 | 2.55 ±0.05 | 0.0013 | 0.127 / 0.254 / 0.508 / 0.762 / 1.016 / 1.524 / 2.0 / 3.0 | RF modules, antenna boards, microwave circuits |
| F4BM265 | 2.65 ±0.05 | 0.0015 | 0.127 / 0.254 / 0.508 / 0.762 / 1.016 / 1.524 / 2.0 / 3.0 | RF and microwave PCB requiring stable mid-range Dk |
| F4BM300 | 3.0 ±0.05 | 0.0017 | 0.127 / 0.254 / 0.508 / 0.762 / 1.016 / 1.524 / 2.0 / 3.0 | Communication PCB, RF antenna modules, microwave circuits |
| F4B350 | 3.5 ±0.05 | 0.0025 | 0.127 / 0.254 / 0.508 / 0.762 / 1.016 / 1.524 / 2.0 / 3.0 | RF communication boards and antenna systems |
| F4BTM400 | 4.00 ±0.08 | 0.0030 | 0.127 / 0.254 / 0.508 / 0.762 / 1.016 / 1.524 / 2.0 / 3.0 | Compact RF designs requiring higher Dk substrate |
| F4BTM440 | 4.40 ±0.10 | 0.0033 | 0.127 / 0.254 / 0.508 / 0.762 / 1.016 / 1.524 / 2.0 / 3.0 | High Dk RF and microwave circuit applications |
| F4BTM615 | 6.15 ±0.12 | 0.0045 | 0.127 / 0.254 / 0.508 / 0.762 / 1.016 / 1.524 / 2.0 / 3.0 | Very high Dk applications requiring compact board geometry |
Why Choose F4B Materials?
F4B materials are often selected for RF and microwave PCB projects that need a practical balance between electrical performance, production feasibility, and cost control.
High Frequency Performance
Suitable for RF and microwave applications where signal stability and transmission performance are important.
Low Signal Loss
Helps reduce signal loss in high frequency circuits compared with standard FR4 materials.
Practical Material Option
A useful option for projects that need balanced performance, availability, and production efficiency.
RF PCB Manufacturing
Can be used for RF modules, antenna boards, communication devices, and industrial RF equipment.
Applications of F4B Materials
F4B materials can be used in a wide range of high frequency PCB applications, especially where RF performance, signal stability, and production practicality are required.
F4B Material Review Before PCB Production
Before production, we can review your F4B material requirement, stackup, working frequency, board thickness, copper thickness, impedance requirement, hole design, and surface finish.
This helps reduce production risks and improves the manufacturing feasibility of RF and microwave PCB projects.
We Can Review
- Material specification
- Stackup structure
- Controlled impedance requirement
- Board thickness and copper thickness
- Drilling and plated through-hole design
- Prototype or batch production requirement
F4B PCB Manufacturing Capabilities
We support F4B PCB fabrication for high frequency PCB projects, from material evaluation and stackup review to prototype and batch production.
Material Processing
- F4B material processing
- High frequency laminate production
- Single-sided and double-sided PCB
- Multilayer stackup support
Manufacturing Control
- Controlled impedance
- Stable plated through holes
- Tight tolerance drilling
- Surface finish options
- Prototype and batch production
F4B Materials Compared with Other PCB Materials
F4B materials offer better high frequency performance than standard FR4 at lower cost than imported Rogers or Taconic laminates. Use this table to understand when F4B is the right choice for your project.
| Material | Dk Range | Df Range | Common Use | When to Choose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F4B (e.g. F4BM220) | 2.20 – 6.15 | 0.0010 – 0.0045 | RF, antenna, communication, microwave PCB | Need better performance than FR4 with lower cost than Rogers; cost-sensitive RF and antenna projects |
| FR4 (standard) | ~4.2 – 4.8 | ~0.015 – 0.025 | General electronic PCB, digital circuits | Low frequency projects below 500MHz where signal loss is not critical |
| Rogers RO4350B | 3.48 ±0.05 | 0.0037 | 5G antennas, RF amplifiers, communication modules | Demanding RF applications requiring stable Dk and reliable multilayer processing |
| Rogers RT5880 | 2.20 ±0.02 | 0.0009 | Radar, aerospace, satellite communication | Ultra-low loss required above 20GHz; loss budget cannot accommodate F4B or RO4350B |
| Taconic TLY-5 | 2.22 ±0.02 | 0.0009 | Microwave and mmWave antenna PCB | Tighter Dk tolerance needed than F4B for precision antenna frequency control |
F4B Materials FAQ
Common questions about F4B PCB materials, specifications, applications and manufacturing requirements.
What are F4B materials?
F4B is a PTFE-based high frequency laminate manufactured by Wangling (旺灵) in China. The series covers multiple grades with Dk values from 2.20 (F4BM220) to 6.15 (F4BTM615) and Df as low as 0.0010. Standard thicknesses from 0.127mm to 3.0mm are available, with custom thicknesses on request. F4B materials offer performance comparable to imported PTFE laminates at lower cost, making them a practical choice for RF, antenna, microwave and communication PCB projects.
What is the difference between F4B and Rogers RO4350B?
Rogers RO4350B (Dk 3.48, Df 0.0037) is a hydrocarbon-based material that processes similarly to FR4 and is widely used for 5G and RF applications. F4BM220 (Dk 2.20, Df 0.0010) is a PTFE-based material with lower Dk and lower Df, similar to Rogers RT5880 in performance category. F4B is generally less expensive than Rogers laminates and is manufactured domestically in China, which can reduce lead time and cost for projects that do not specifically require Rogers brand materials. For projects where Rogers is not specified by the customer, F4B is a cost-effective alternative worth considering.
Which F4B grade should I choose for my project?
For most RF and antenna applications below 10GHz, F4BM220 (Dk 2.20, Df 0.0010) or F4BM265 (Dk 2.65, Df 0.0015) are common choices. For projects requiring a Dk close to Rogers RO4350B, F4B350 (Dk 3.5, Df 0.0025) is a reasonable alternative. For high-Dk compact designs, F4BTM400 (Dk 4.0), F4BTM440 (Dk 4.4) or F4BTM615 (Dk 6.15) are available. If you are unsure which grade suits your working frequency and impedance requirement, send us your design details and we can recommend the right F4B grade before production.
Are F4B materials suitable for antenna PCB?
Yes. F4B materials are suitable for antenna PCB applications in the 2.4GHz, 5GHz and lower microwave frequency ranges. F4BM220 (Dk 2.20 ±0.04) provides stable dielectric constant for antenna resonant frequency control at lower cost than Rogers RT5880. For antenna designs above 20GHz or requiring very tight Dk tolerance (±0.02), materials like Taconic TLY-5 or Rogers RT5880 may be more appropriate due to their tighter Dk tolerance.
Do F4B PCBs require special manufacturing processes?
Yes. F4B is PTFE-based and requires specialized processing for drilling and copper bonding, similar to other PTFE laminates. We use plasma treatment before copper sinking on F4B boards to ensure reliable copper adhesion in plated through holes. Standard FR4 drilling and plating processes are not suitable for F4B. Engineering review is included before production to check stackup compatibility and process requirements.
Do you support F4B PCB prototype production?
Yes. We support F4B PCB prototype, small batch and volume production. F4BM220, F4BM255, F4BM265, F4BM300, F4B350, F4BTM400, F4BTM440 and F4BTM615 are available in standard thicknesses from 0.127mm to 3.0mm. Custom thicknesses can be arranged on request. Send your Gerber files and material requirement for a quotation.
What information should I provide for an F4B PCB quotation?
Please prepare: Gerber files (ZIP format), F4B grade and thickness (e.g. F4BM220 0.508mm), PCB stackup, board thickness, copper thickness, surface finish, quantity, impedance requirements, and working frequency. Application details help us review material suitability and process requirements before production.
Need a Reliable High Frequency PCB Supplier?
Send us your Gerber files, stackup, material requirements, copper thickness, surface finish, quantity, and application details. Our team will review your PCB project and provide a quotation.
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