Introducing DuPont™ GreenTape™ 9K5 Low Dielectric Constant, Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic (LTCC) Tape System

Abstract

Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) material systems have been successfully used in microwave and millimeter wave systems for several years. LTCC has very low dielectric loss, high reliability due to inherent hermeticity; high interconnect density, multilayer processing capability leading to true 3D packaging, and better cost-performance balance. While the medium range dielectric constants (7.00 – 8.00) offered by current tape systems have advantages, it is generally difficult to realize high speed systems and efficient antennas on LTCC, especially at millimeter wave frequencies. The difficulty arises from the reduced signal propagation velocity in high-speed applications, and lower radiation efficiency for antennas, both due to higher dielectric constant. To enable and extend applications of LTCC technology to these subsystems, DuPont has developed a new low dielectric constant LTCC system – DuPont™ GreenTape™ 9K5 - which has a dielectric constant of 5.80 (at 10 GHz) that is compatible with the commercial DuPont™ GreenTape™ 9K7 LTCC System. This is achieved without compromising excellent microwave loss properties of the 9KX GreenTape™ platform. These materials systems enable high-speed, high reliability applications while also realizing efficient antennas on LTCC. This paper presents initial characterization of the new DuPont™ GreenTape™ 9K5 LTCC system consisting of low K dielectric tape, gold and silver conductors to evaluate the effects of chemistry, processing conditions, processing latitude, microstructure, and microwave performance. Test coupons with various transmission and resonating structures are designed, fabricated, and tested for the evaluation of transmission losses and dielectric properties. Stability of the material system over multiple re-fire steps is also examined