Arlon AD1000
Dk 10.2 | Df 0.0030 @ 10 GHz — ceramic-filled PTFE with exceptional dimensional stability for military GPS and miniaturized antenna designs.
10.2
Dk @ 10 GHz
0.0030
Df @ 10 GHz
20
ppm/C CTE-z
500 C
Td
What is Arlon AD1000?
Arlon AD1000 is a ceramic-filled PTFE laminate with a dielectric constant of 10.2, designed for military antenna miniaturization applications requiring exceptional dimensional and thermal stability. Its very low CTE z-axis (20 ppm/C) distinguishes it from other high-Dk materials, providing reliable plated through-holes even in extreme thermal cycling environments.
The combination of high Dk (10.2) and very low z-axis expansion (20 ppm/C) is unusual in the PCB materials landscape. Most high-Dk PTFE materials sacrifice dimensional stability for dielectric performance. AD1000 achieves both through proprietary ceramic filler loading and particle engineering.
AD1000 is specified in military GPS receivers, satellite navigation equipment, and defense communication systems where antenna miniaturization must coexist with MIL-STD environmental requirements including thermal shock, vibration, and altitude cycling.
Maximum Miniaturization
Dk 10.2 enables 60%+ antenna area reduction from standard substrates.
Extreme Stability
CTE z 20 ppm/C — lowest of any high-Dk material for via reliability.
Military Grade
Meets MIL-STD thermal cycling and environmental requirements.
Low Loss at High Dk
Df 0.0030 maintains antenna efficiency despite extreme miniaturization.
Arlon AD1000 Key Properties
Representative values from the manufacturer datasheet.
| Property | Value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dielectric constant (Dk) | 10.2 @ 10 GHz | Among highest available for maximum antenna size reduction. |
| Dk tolerance | +/-0.25 | Standard for high-Dk ceramics — design with bandwidth margin. |
| Dissipation factor (Df) | 0.0030 @ 10 GHz | Lower loss than competing high-Dk materials for better efficiency. |
| CTE z-axis | ~20 ppm/C | Exceptionally low for a high-Dk material — reliable PTH. |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.81 W/m K | Good thermal management for power-handling antenna elements. |
| Decomposition temp (Td) | 500 C | Extreme thermal margin for any reflow or operating condition. |
| Dimensional stability | Excellent | Minimal panel movement during processing and thermal cycling. |
| Reinforcement | Ceramic-filled PTFE | Woven glass option available for enhanced rigidity. |
| Moisture absorption | 0.05% | Low uptake for stable Dk in humid field environments. |
Why Military Programs Choose AD1000
Military GPS receivers must fit inside confined weapon housings, soldier-worn equipment, and UAV avionics bays. AD1000 enables L1/L2 GPS patches small enough for these enclosures while surviving the -55C to +125C thermal cycling, 40g vibration, and altitude decompression that MIL-STD-810 demands.
The 20 ppm/C z-axis CTE is the critical differentiator. Competing materials at Dk 10 typically show 150-280 ppm/C z-axis expansion, causing plated through-hole fatigue after 200-500 thermal cycles. AD1000 survives 1000+ cycles without barrel cracking, meeting IPC-6012 Class 3/A reliability requirements.
Thermal conductivity of 0.81 W/m K (approximately 4x standard FR-4) provides additional value for active antenna designs where low-noise amplifiers are co-located with antenna elements. The substrate itself becomes part of the thermal management solution rather than a thermal barrier.
MIL-STD-810 Survivable
Proven through thermal cycling, vibration, and altitude requirements.
1000+ Thermal Cycles
CTE z 20 ppm/C enables Class 3/A PTH reliability through extended cycling.
Active Antenna Compatible
0.81 W/m K supports co-located LNA thermal management.
Defense Qualified
Qualification data available for military program insertion.
High-Dk Antenna Material Comparison
AD1000 versus alternative high-Dk substrates for antenna miniaturization.
| Material | Dk | Df | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlon AD1000This page | 10.2 | 0.0030 | Ceramic PTFE — mil-grade, lowest CTE z in class. |
| Taconic CER-10 | 10.0 | 0.0035 | Ceramic PTFE — commercial focus, higher CTE z. |
| Rogers RO3006 | 6.15 | 0.0020 | Moderate-Dk PTFE — less miniaturization, lower loss. |
| LTCC Ceramic | 7-9 | 0.001 | Cofired ceramic — lowest loss, brittle, expensive. |
| Rogers RO3010 | 10.2 | 0.0022 | Ceramic PTFE — equivalent Dk, lower loss, higher CTE z. |
Arlon AD1000 Applications
Military GPS patches, miniaturized antenna elements, defense size-constrained modules, GNSS arrays
Military GPS Antennas
L1/L2/L5 miniaturized patches for weapons, soldier systems, and UAVs.
GNSS Arrays
Compact multi-constellation antenna arrays for precision navigation.
Radar Feed Elements
Miniaturized feed horns and coupling elements in phased arrays.
UAV Navigation
Ultra-compact GPS/GNSS for small unmanned systems.
Defense Communications
Compact antenna elements for military radio systems.
Precision GNSS
RTK and survey-grade compact antenna designs.
AD1000 Antenna Design Guidelines
AD1000 Dk tolerance of +/-0.25 requires designing antenna bandwidth margin of 2.5% minimum to absorb lot-to-lot variation. For military GPS L1 (20 MHz bandwidth at 1575.42 MHz = 1.3%), design for 3% antenna bandwidth to maintain performance across production.
Via reliability is excellent due to low CTE z, but maintain good design practice: 0.3mm minimum drill, 25um minimum barrel plating, and aspect ratios below 8:1 for Class 3 reliability through full MIL-STD-810 thermal cycling.
Get Instant QuoteBandwidth Margin
Design 2.5%+ bandwidth to cover Dk tolerance across lots.
Via Reliability
Low CTE z enables Class 3/A PTH through extreme cycling.
Thermal Management
0.81 W/m K supports co-located active components.
Qualification Support
Arlon provides defense qualification data packages.
Genuine Arlon AD1000, Verified on Every Order
Material CoC
Certificate of Conformance with lot number ships with every order.
Stock Verified
We confirm laminate availability before order confirmation.
No Substitutions
Specified material guaranteed — never swapped without written approval.
FAQ
Arlon AD1000 Questions
What is Arlon AD1000?
A ceramic-filled PTFE laminate with Dk 10.2, Df 0.0030, and exceptionally low CTE z-axis (20 ppm/C). Designed for military antenna miniaturization requiring extreme thermal reliability.
How does AD1000 compare to CER-10?
Similar Dk (10.2 vs 10.0) but AD1000 has dramatically lower CTE z (20 vs typical 150+ ppm/C), making it suitable for military thermal cycling requirements. AD1000 also has lower Df (0.0030 vs 0.0035).
What CTE z-axis does AD1000 achieve?
Approximately 20 ppm/C — the lowest of any high-Dk PCB material, enabling reliable plated through-holes through 1000+ thermal cycles per IPC-6012 Class 3/A.
Is AD1000 suitable for space applications?
AD1000 has been used in space programs. Contact Arlon for outgassing and radiation qualification data specific to your mission profile.
Can AtlasPCB process AD1000?
Yes. AD1000 processes as standard PTFE on our qualified fabrication line, from prototype through production with material CoC.
Need Arlon AD1000 fabrication?
AD1000 — Dk 10.2, CTE z 20 ppm/C, military-grade antenna miniaturization — from prototype to production.
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