Definition

IPC-6018 covers qualification and performance of high-frequency printed boards for RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave applications. It addresses specialized substrate requirements (PTFE, ceramic-filled materials), dielectric constant tolerances (typically ±2-5%), insertion loss limits, and dimensional stability under temperature. For designs operating above 1 GHz where signal integrity is critical, IPC-6018 provides the framework for qualifying your fabricator's RF capability. Current version is IPC-6018D (2022).