Thick, Tough, and Low Loss: The WL-CT440 30mil PCB

Thick, Tough, and Low Loss: The WL-CT440 30mil PCB

Need a high-frequency board that's thicker than usual but still easy to fabricate? Meet the WL-CT440 30mil ENIG PCB.

This 2-layer board (89mm x 63.5mm) is built on Wangling's WL-CT440—a thermosetting hydrocarbon-ceramic composite that bridges the gap between PTFE performance and FR-4 processability.

Why you want it:

• FR-4 Friendly: Unlike finicky PTFE materials, WL-CT440 processes using standard FR-4 fabrication techniques. No special via prep. Lower cost, faster turnaround.

• Solid RF Performance: Dielectric constant of 4.1 and dissipation factor of 0.004 at 10 GHz. Plenty for microwave and antenna work.

• Thick Core: At 0.8mm (30mil) finished thickness, this board offers mechanical rigidity that thinner RF laminates can't match.

• Stable as a Rock: TCDK of -21 ppm/°C means your Dk won't drift with temperature. CTE closely matched to copper (X: 14ppm, Y: 18ppm).

• No Mask, No Silkscreen: Just bare laminate, copper, and ENIG. Clean and simple.

The Specs Snapshot:

• Stackup: 2-Layer | 35µm copper / 0.762mm (30mil) WL-CT440 / 35µm copper

• Finish: Immersion Gold (ENIG)

• Traces/Holes: 4/6 mil trace/space | 0.2mm min hole size (tight!)

• Stats: 37 components, 49 pads, 31 vias

• Quality: IPC-Class-2 | 100% electrical test

Key Properties:

• Thermal Conductivity: 0.66 W/m/K (good heat dissipation)

• Moisture Absorption: 0.12% (low)

• High Tg: >280°C

Best For: Aerospace equipment, airborne radar, phased array antennas, satellite communication, power amplifiers, and navigation systems.

The Bottom Line:

If you want PTFE-like RF performance without PTFE's fabrication headaches, the WL-CT440 delivers. It's thick, stable, low loss, and processes just like FR-4. A smart choice for aerospace and microwave applications.