Jan 21, 2019

Products & Solutions / Press Release

Panasonic Commercializes Halogen-free Multi-layer Circuit Board Material (Halogen-free MEGTRON6) for Communications Infrastructure Equipment

Panasonic's new halogen-free multi-layer circuit board material enables greater-capacity and higher-speed transmission of data communication, which will contribute to the popularization of 5th-generation (5G) mobile communication systems.

Halogen-free Ultra-low transmission loss Multi-layer circuit board materials R-5375

Osaka, Japan – Panasonic Corporation announced today that it has commercialized halogen-free[1], ultra-low transmission loss[2], multi-layer circuit board material, called Halogen-free MEGTRON6 (Representative part number: R-5375), suited for communications infrastructure equipment such as fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication systems. Production will begin in April 2019.

With the upcoming launch of 5G mobile communication system services, greater-capacity and faster data transmission speeds will be needed. Multi-layer circuit board material used as a key component in equipment such as servers and routers that support core systems for communications networks will require halogen-free material from the viewpoint of environmental protection, not to mention high-capacity and high-speed data transmission. Panasonic has commercialized this multi-layer circuit board material that is ideal for communications infrastructure equipment by achieving a halogen-free material that shows low transmission loss, high heat resistance, and high reliability, based on the company's proprietary resin design technology and compounding technology.

Panasonic's new Halogen-free MEGTRON6 multi-layer circuit board material has the following features:

1. Halogen-free material with a low transmission loss characteristic, contributing to higher-capacity and faster data transmission.

Dielectric constant (Dk)[3] = 3.4 (12 GHz)*1, Panasonic's conventional products*2 3.4 (12 GHz) *1

Dissipation factor (Df)[4] = 0.003 (12 GHz)*1, Panasonic's conventional products*2 0.004 (12 GHz)*1

2. Enhanced reliability of equipment operation due to highly heat-resistant, high-reliability multi-layer circuit board material

Reflow heat resistance: 10 cycles Pass (260 ℃, 32 layers); Panasonic's conventional products*2 28 layers 10 cycles

Insulation reliability: 1000 hours Pass (85 ℃, humidity 85 %, 50 V); Panasonic's conventional products*2 Similar

Thermal expansion coefficient (thickness direction) 39 ppm; Panasonic's conventional products*2 45 ppm

Glass transition temperature (Tg)[5]: 250 ℃/DMA, Thermal decomposition temperature (Td) 435 ℃; Panasonic's conventional products*2 Tg 210 ℃/DMA, Td 410 ℃

3. The halogen-free material employed improves ease of manufacturing and processing of multi-layer circuit boards with over 20 layers.

Notes:

  • *1: Values for using low dielectric constant glass cloth
  • *2: Panasonic's conventional products: MEGTRON6 ultra-low transmission loss multi-layer circuit board material (part number R-5775)

Suitable applications:

Communications infrastructure equipment for ICTs, high-end servers, routers, switches, wireless base stations, etc.

Note:

This material will be exhibited at “DesignCon 2019” to be held from January 29 to 31, 2019 in Santa Clara, California, USA.

[Product inquiries]

https://industrial.panasonic.com/cuif/ww/contact-us?field_contact_group=2343&field_contact_lineup=3249&ad=press20190121

[Detail Information]

https://industrial.panasonic.com/ww/products/electronic-materials/circuit-board-materials/megtron/hf-megtron6?ad=press20190121

[Product Features]

1. Low transmission loss with halogen-free material, thereby contributing to high-capacity and high-speed data transmission

There is a growing need for environment-friendly halogen-free material for circuit board materials used in communications infrastructure equipment. To maintain flame retardation, the use of non-halogen flame retardants is necessary, but the downside was increased transmission loss, particularly in the high-frequency range. Achievement of large-capacity and high-speed transmission as required by communications infrastructure equipment by using halogen-free material was therefore a challenge. However, the company has now achieved flame retardation with halogen-free material as well as low transmission loss in the high-frequency range by applying its proprietary resin design technology and compounding technology. As a result, large-capacity and high-speed data transmission was achieved, which will contribute to the rollout of the 5G mobile communication system.

2. Reliable equipment operation by the use of highly heat-resistant, high-reliability multi-layer circuit board material

This material, created using the company's own resin design technology and compounding technology, offers excellent reflow heat resistance, insulation reliability, and high glass transition temperature as well as a high thermal decomposition temperature. This multi-layer circuit board material achieves high reliability in high-temperature environments, thereby contributing to reliable operation of communications infrastructure equipment.

3. The halogen-free material employed improves ease of manufacturing and processing of multi-layer circuit boards with over 20 layers.

This material achieves outstanding ease of manufacturing and processing in producing multi-layer circuit boards with over 20 layers based on the company's own resin design technology, and enables the adoption of environment-friendly halogen-free circuit board material in communications infrastructure equipment that requires very high numbers of board layers.

Basic specifications:

Part numbers: Core material: R-5375 (N), R-5375 (E), Prepreg: R-5370 (N), R-5370 (E)

Basic specifications

[Term Descriptions]

[1] Halogen-free

Material defined by JPCA-ES-01-2003 concerning the quantity of halogens (bromine [Br] and chlorine [Cl]) present.

[2] Transmission loss

The decay phenomenon of an electrical signal in a circuit due to being converted to heat by resistance, etc., in relation to distance or circuit design. The degree of loss varies according to the characteristics of the conductor (circuit) or the insulating material (board material) in contact with the circuitry.

[3] Dielectric constant (Dk)

Dielectric constant is an index of the ease of polarization of an insulating substance when an external charge is applied to it. Each substance has a specific value. Because easily-polarized substances tend to store electricity, hard-to-polarize substances (small dielectric constant) are better for efficiently sending electrical signals. The dielectric constant is defined as a ratio relative to the dielectric constant of a vacuum.

[4] Dissipation factor (Df)

Dissipation factor indicates the degree of loss that takes place when electricity stored in an insulating substance is discharged. The smaller the dielectric dissipation factor, the more efficiently stored electricity is discharged, and the smaller the transmission loss of the electrical signal becomes.

[5] Glass transition temperature (Tg)

When a polymer is heated, it changes from a glass-like hard state to a rubber-like, soft condition. This change is called glass transition, and the temperature at which this change occurs is called the glass transition temperature.

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies and solutions for customers in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, and B2B businesses. The company, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018, has expanded globally and now operates 591 subsidiaries and 88 associated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of 7.982 trillion yen for the year ended March 31, 2018. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company uses its technologies to create a better life and a better world for its customers. To learn more about Panasonic, visit: https://www.panasonic.com/global.

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Issued:
Panasonic Corporation

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