Material boost for all

SABIC has launched a poly-sulfide plastic material for 5G base station dipole antennas and other electronic applications.

The LNP Thermocomp OFC08V compound enables lightweight, cost-effective, all-plastic antenna designs for the deployment of 5G infrastructure. This is a glass fibre-reinforced material based on polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) resin with excellent plating performance using laser direct structuring (LDS), strong layer adhesion, good warpage control, high heat resistance, and stable dielectric and RF performance. This combination of properties could enable an injection moldable new dipole antenna design, offering advantages over traditional printed circuit board (PCB) assembly and the selective electroplating of plastic.

The material has previously been used for 3D molded electronics: Liquid crystal polymers for 3D interconnect in 5G designs

The key for an all-plastic antenna is the metal plating using LDS. The material offers a wide laser processing window and both ease of plating and uniformity in plating line width to help ensure stable and consistent antenna performance. Strong adhesion between the plastic and metal layers avoids delamination, even following thermal aging and lead-free reflow soldering. Improved dimensional stability and lower warpage compared to competitive glass-reinforced PPS grades help achieve smooth fixation of the metal plating during LDS, as well as accurate assembly.

After injection molding of the part, LDS only requires laser structuring and chemical plating. In addition, the material provides all the performance benefits of glass-filled PPS, including high heat resistance for PCB assembly using surface mount technology, and inherent flame retardancy (UL-94 V0 at 0.8 mm). Low dielectric values (dielectric constant: 4.0; dissipation factor: 0.0045) and stable dielectric performance, together with good RF performance under harsh conditions, help optimize transmission and extend useful life.

As a result the compound has been listed by LPKF Laser & Electronics, a German provider of laser manufacturing solutions, as an approved thermoplastic for LDS with the company’s systems.

“To help achieve 5G’s promise of faster speeds, increased data loads and ultra-low latency, RF antenna manufacturers are revolutionizing their designs, materials and processes,” said Joshua Chiaw, Director, Business Management, LNP & NORYL, Specialties at SABIC. “We are helping our customers simplify the production of RF antennas, which are used by the hundreds in arrays within active antenna units. Our latest high-performance LNP Thermocomp compound not only helps streamline manufacturing by avoiding post processing, but it can also deliver exceptional performance across multiple, critical areas.”

“All-plastic dipole antennas made with glass-reinforced PPS are replacing traditional designs because they can reduce weight, simplify assembly and deliver higher plating uniformity,” said Jenny Wang, Director, Formulation and Application, APAC, Specialties, SABIC. “However, conventional PPS materials need a complex metallization process. To address this challenge, SABIC developed a new, specialized PPS-based compound with LDS capability and high-strength bonding.”

“The availability of this advanced LNP THERMOCOMP OFC08V compound can contribute to improved antenna designs and consistent performance in the field, simplify the metallization process and lower system costs for our customers,” she added.

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