What is Megtron 6
Megtron 6 are a well-known series of laminate materials for HDI PCB with extensive applications in the industry. They offer numerous benefits such as decreased signal losses and improved thermal resistance in harsh environments.
They have shown tremendous promise in facilitating high speed digital signals within PCBs. Megtron 6 laminates are widely used in mission-critical industries such as aerospace and military applications.
The material is specially designed for high frequency PCB devices. This is a primary reason why its Dk and Df values are on the low end of the spectrum.
Why Megtron 6 Has a Massive Impact on Signal Transmission
Megtron 6 provides improved benefits in high performance network switches and performance routers. Signal attenuation from conductor and dielectric losses is a major concern for high performance devices.
These signal reflections are caused by variations in impedance due to shifts in the dielectric constant of laminates with frequency. Delay in signal propagation, which is mostly dictated by the dielectric constant, can signal transmission through optical channels.
By necessity, these channels should be free from signal noise and electrically independent of their surroundings. This requires the use of low-loss materials that have stable Df values on the order of 0.003 of at least 10GHz for high speed digital applications with fast data rates.
The low Df values of Megtron 6 can satisfy the loss budgets of high speed applications such as Ethernet line cards. They do end up costing more than traditional FR-4 laminates, so it is more common to see hybrid stackups to minimize overhead costs.
A major advantage of using Megtron 6 is that it does not contain fluorine, chlorine, and bromine. This also makes it environmentally safer.
The superior thermal and mechanical properties of Megtron 6 make it well suited to extreme temperatures. Speaking of heat resistance, Megtron 6 has a high decomposition temperature at 410°C. This allows it to perform under a high temperature without decomposing chemically.
Note, however, that the material will start to decompose when exposed to temperatures higher than 410°.
Megtron 6 has many advantages that include:
- Low exhaust volume that makes it well suited to space applications
- Advanced impedance control
- Better thermal management
- Low moisture absorption
- Low dielectric constant that is stable over a wide range of frequencies and temperature
- Ideal for RF micro via PCBs
- Very reliable and can be used in most industries around the world.
Megtron 6 laminates are available in several thicknesses, glass styles, and prepreg thicknesses. Their flat-glass style avoids impedance variation due to the fiber weave effect. The resin evenly coats the surface of the tight weaves. The resin content of three different percentages can be selected for Megtron 6 prepreg glass styles.
Properties of Megtron 6
This discussion would not be completed without analyzing the property of Megtron 6. The section below will help you understand why Megtron 6 performs so well.
Dielectric Constant
The dielectric constant of Megtron 6 is extremely low. At 1 Ghz, it has a Dk value of 3.71. The Dk value marginally increases to 3.61 at 10 Ghz. To put things in perspective, materials that have a low dielectric constant are considered to be good insulators.
More importantly, Megtron 6 demonstrates stable Dk values across a wide range of frequencies and temperatures. This is an important property that results in low loss transmission.
Low Dk values are preferred for high speed applications to minimize the loss of electric power.
Dissipation Factor
Megtron 6 has a very stable and low dissipation factor. This metric measures the degree of loss when electricity in an insulator discharges. A low Df value allows these materials to be incredibly efficient as insulators. The result is a net reduction in the loss of electrical signals.
Peel Strength
Peel strength is an important metric for circuit materials. Laminates must meet industry defined specifications for adequate resistance to impact, shock, and vibration. Megtron 6 has a high peel strength, with the R-5776 laminate having a value of 0.8KN/m.
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion
As a laminate’s temperature rises past its Tg value, its CTE also rises. This can lead to interconnection issues as a PCB gets heated. Megtron 6 has a low coefficient of thermal expansion, which is very important because it can impact the overall performance of a circuit.
Glass Transition Temperature
Megtron 6 has a favorable glass transition temperature with the R-5775 laminate having a Tg of 185°C. This is relatively high and allows the material to be used in various applications.
Moisture Absorption
In a perfect world, a laminate will not absorb moisture even when it is submerged in water. However, no such material exists in the real world. The goal, therefore, is to minimize moisture absorption.
For obvious reasons, materials with low absorptivity have superior electrical and thermal properties. Megtron 6 has incredibly low moisture absorption that is far superior than FR4 laminates.
Through Hole reliability
A major reason why Megtron 6 laminates are ideal for niche applications is their overall resilience and reliability. The components can withstand more environmental stress, such as excessive temperatures, and create more reliable connections.
In addition to the above, Megtron 6 is highly durable and can withstand immense physical and mechanical stress.
Compliant with Industry Specifications
A major reason why Megtron 6 is popular in the industry is that it complies with the regulations set forth by the RoHS. The RoHS regulates the use of hazardous substances in electrical equipment. Complying with RoHS requires extensive testing for banned substances. All these requirements can be relatively expensive.
Furthermore, the laminates work well with lead-free applications to minimize pollution. Some of the most common applications for Megtron 6 laminates include:
- High speed network equipment
- High speed mainframes
- High frequency measuring equipment
Wrapping Up
Are you working on a complex project that requires multilayer HDI PCBs? Then you may want to use Megtron 6 in your PCBs. However, we recommend approaching a PCB manufacturer with considerable experience in assembling and designing complicated PCBs. Get in touch with the experts at Hemeixin PCB for more information.
