Why Choose CER-10 Over Other High-DK Laminates for Compact RF Components?

Introduction

In high-frequency microwave circuit design, achieving circuit miniaturization while maintaining excellent electrical performance is a constant challenge. One of the most effective strategies for reducing circuit size is to use a substrate material with a high dielectric constant (Dk). Higher Dk materials allow for shorter wavelengths within the substrate, enabling smaller passive components such as couplers, filters, and resonators.

Taconic CER-10 is a premium organic-ceramic laminate from the ORCER® product family, specifically engineered to address this need. With a nominal dielectric constant of 10.0 and a low dissipation factor of 0.0035 at 10 GHz, CER-10 enables significant circuit miniaturization while maintaining low signal loss. This makes it an ideal choice for compact microwave assemblies, power amplifiers, and waveguide-based passive components.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of CER-10 laminate properties, a detailed 2-layer PCB design example, and key sourcing information for engineers and procurement professionals.

What Is Taconic CER-10 Laminate?

Taconic CER-10 is an organic-ceramic laminate that combines Taconic's advanced ceramic fill technology with its deep expertise in coated PTFE fiberglass. The material is based on a woven glass reinforcement, which ensures excellent dimensional stability and enhanced flexural strength.

CER-10 exhibits exceptional interlaminar bond strength and solder resistance, ensuring reliable performance in demanding manufacturing and operating environments. Its proprietary composition results in very low moisture absorption (0.02%) and uniform electrical properties across the material.

The material's low Z-axis coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE of 46 ppm/°C) allows for reliable plated-through-hole (PTH) integrity even in extreme thermal environments, making it suitable for applications subject to temperature cycling and thermal shock.

Key Differentiator: High Dielectric Constant for Circuit Miniaturization

With a Dk of 10.0, CER-10 is significantly higher than standard RF materials like RO4350B (Dk ~3.48) or PTFE-based laminates (Dk ~2.2–2.6). This high Dk enables:

Up to 50–60% reduction in component size for quarter-wave resonators, couplers, and filters

More compact PCB layouts for space-constrained applications

Lower profile designs without compromising electrical performance

Properties of CER-10 Laminate

Features and Benefits Summary

Standard Offerings

CER-10 laminates are available in a variety of standard thicknesses, panel sizes, and copper cladding options.

Note: Other thicknesses may be available upon request.

Standard Panel Sizes & Claddings

2-Layer PCB Design Example Using CER-10

To demonstrate the practical application of CER-10, the following is a complete 2-layer rigid PCB design case.

PCB Design Specifications

Design Observations

This design features a compact 67 mm × 55.9 mm board with 28 components and only 2 nets. Key observations include:

High via count (25 vias) – Reflects the need for frequent grounding or shielding in a microwave design

No solder mask – A deliberate choice for microwave applications where solder mask could introduce unwanted dielectric effects or parasitic capacitance

No silkscreen – Maintains a clean RF surface and avoids contamination

Immersion Silver finish – Provides excellent conductivity and flatness for microwave signal integrity; preferred over ENIG for certain RF applications

IPC-Class-2 compliance – Ensures reliability for commercial and industrial applications

CER-10's high Dk (10.0) – Allows for significant miniaturization of passive components on this compact board

Manufacturing Process Highlights

Standard PTFE processing – CER-10 can be sheared, drilled, milled, and plated using standard methods for PTFE/woven fiberglass materials

No specialized via preparation – Unlike some PTFE materials, CER-10 can be processed with conventional techniques

Fine-pitch capability – 5/6 mil trace/spacing supports dense microwave circuit layouts

Typical Applications

CER-10's unique combination of high Dk, low loss, and excellent mechanical properties makes it ideal for a wide range of microwave applications:

-power amplifiers

-waveguide filters

-directional couplers

-other microwave passive components

Conclusion

Taconic CER-10 laminates offer a unique and compelling value proposition for microwave circuit designers: high dielectric constant (10.0) combined with low loss (0.0035 @ 10 GHz) and excellent mechanical properties. This combination enables significant circuit miniaturization—a critical advantage in space-constrained applications such as compact power amplifiers, waveguide filters, and directional couplers.

Key advantages include:

Circuit miniaturization – Up to 60% size reduction for passive components

Low loss – Df of 0.0035 at 10 GHz maintains signal integrity

Excellent dimensional stability – Woven glass reinforcement with CTE of 13/15 ppm/°C (X/Y)

Reliable PTHs – Low Z-axis CTE of 46 ppm/°C ensures reliability in thermal environments

Low moisture absorption (0.02%) – Stable electrical performance in humid conditions

NASA low-outgassing certified – Suitable for aerospace and space applications

V-0 flammability – UL 94 compliant for safety-critical systems

Standard processing – Can be sheared, drilled, milled, and plated using standard PTFE methods

Whether used in power amplifiers, waveguide filters, or other microwave passive components, CER-10 provides a reliable, high-performance solution for demanding high-frequency applications.