White Paper: When Selecting Low-Loss Microwave Laminates, Loss Tangent Is Only 25% Of The Story

The optimal selection of a low-loss microwave laminate requires much more due diligence than comparing reported loss tangent (tand) or dissipation factor (Df) values of various competitive materials. The problem with reported values is that they measured under idealized conditions, which neglects moisture and processing affects on material performance and omits the importance of conductor losses (and the choice of the copper profile). As this article will show, experienced microwave engineers prefer to understand the insertion loss of the material, especially in a circuit representative of their application.