Rogers Materials for RF & Microwave PCB Applications

Rogers offers several laminate series for different applications. The RO4000 series (RO4350B, RO4003C) are hydrocarbon-ceramic materials that process like FR4 — the most practical choice for most RF and 5G applications. The RO3000 series (RO3003, RO3006, RO3010) are PTFE-ceramic with lower Df and Dk options for mmWave and radar. The RT/duroid series (RT5880, RT5870) are PTFE-glass with the lowest Df (0.0009) for aerospace and satellite applications. The RO6000 series (RO6010) provides very high Dk (10.2) for compact filter and coupler designs.

Both are hydrocarbon-based RO4000 series materials that process similarly to FR4. RO4350B (Dk 3.48, Df 0.0037) is more widely available and the standard choice for 5G antennas, RF amplifiers and communication modules. RO4003C (Dk 3.38, Df 0.0027) has lower Df and slightly lower Dk, making it better for antenna feed networks and power amplifiers where insertion loss is more critical. For most applications below 10GHz, either material works. Above 10GHz or in loss-sensitive designs, RO4003C is often preferred over RO4350B.

RT5880 (Dk 2.2, Df 0.0009) has approximately 4x lower dielectric loss than RO4350B (Df 0.0037). Choose RT5880 when your application operates above 20GHz, or when insertion loss is critical — such as radar receiver front-ends, satellite uplink circuits, aerospace RF modules, or mmWave antenna arrays. RT5880 is PTFE-based and requires plasma treatment before copper sinking, making it more complex and costly to manufacture than RO4350B. For most 5G and commercial RF applications below 20GHz, RO4350B provides sufficient performance at lower cost and with simpler processing.

For automotive radar operating at 77GHz, RO3003 (Dk 3.0, Df 0.0010) is widely specified due to its low Df, stable Dk across temperature, and good manufacturability compared to pure PTFE materials. RT5880 (Df 0.0009) is also used when the lowest possible insertion loss is required. RO4350B is generally not recommended for 77GHz automotive radar because its higher Df causes excessive signal loss at mmWave frequencies. Please specify your operating frequency and loss budget when requesting a material recommendation.

Yes. Rogers RO4350B + FR4 is the most common hybrid combination. RO4350B bonds well with standard FR4 prepreg under normal lamination conditions, making it more manufacturing-friendly than PTFE + FR4 hybrids. A typical 6-layer hybrid might use RO4350B for layers 1-2 (RF signal) and FR4 for layers 3-6 (power and control). This can reduce material cost by 40-60% compared to an all-Rogers stackup. Engineering review is included before production to confirm material compatibility and impedance design.

We stock RO4350B, RO4003C, RO3003, RO3006, RO3010, RT5880, RT5870 and RO6010 in standard thicknesses. RO4350B is available from 0.101mm to 1.524mm. RT5880 is available from 0.127mm to 3.175mm. RO3003 is available from 0.127mm to 1.524mm. Other Rogers materials can be sourced based on project requirements. Lead time varies by material grade — please confirm availability when placing your order.

Please prepare: Rogers material name and thickness (e.g. RO4350B 0.508mm), Gerber files (ZIP format), PCB stackup, board thickness, copper thickness, surface finish, quantity, impedance requirements and working frequency. For hybrid stackups, specify the Rogers material and thickness for each high frequency layer. Application details help us confirm material suitability before production.