Definition

Hydrocarbon ceramic laminates (Rogers RO4000 series) combine ceramic filler with hydrocarbon resin and woven glass reinforcement. Benefits: stable Dk (3.38-3.66), low loss (Df 0.0027-0.004), and standard FR-4 processing (no PTFE handling issues). RO4003C and RO4350B are workhorses for commercial RF through 10GHz. Cost is 3-5x FR-4 but far less than pure PTFE. Can be laminated with FR-4 in hybrid stackups. The woven glass enables standard drilling and plating. Widely used in cellular base stations, automotive radar, and commercial wireless.