ITEQ IT-968SE
Dk 3.16 | Df 0.0015 @ 10 GHz — Megtron 7-class performance with better availability and lower cost for next-gen AI and 800G infrastructure.
3.16
Dk @ 10 GHz
0.0015
Df @ 10 GHz
200°C
Tg (DSC)
380°C
Td
What Is ITEQ IT-968SE?
ITEQ IT-968SE is a next-generation ultra-low-loss laminate built on spread glass reinforcement and a proprietary ultra-low-loss resin system. With a Df of just 0.0015 at 10 GHz, it sits at the pinnacle of commercially available PCB materials — directly competing with Panasonic Megtron 7 (R-5785N).
What sets IT-968SE apart is its supply chain advantage. Manufactured by ITEQ with strong production capacity in Asia, it offers significantly better lead times and pricing than Japanese alternatives — a critical factor as AI infrastructure spending drives unprecedented demand for ultra-low-loss materials.
Industry-Leading Df
0.0015 at 10 GHz enables 112G+ PAM4 channels beyond 12 inches
Spread Glass Construction
Eliminates fiber weave effect for sub-1ps intra-pair skew on differential channels
Exceptional Td
380°C decomposition temperature provides outstanding thermal margin for high-layer-count builds
Material Properties
| Property | Value | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Dielectric Constant (Dk) | 3.16 ±0.05 | IPC-TM-650, 10 GHz |
| Dissipation Factor (Df) | 0.0015 | IPC-TM-650, 10 GHz |
| Glass Transition (Tg) | 200°C | DSC |
| Decomposition Temp (Td) | 380°C | TGA, 5% wt loss |
| CTE Z-axis | ~35 ppm/°C | TMA |
| Flammability | UL 94 V-0 | UL |
| Reinforcement | Spread glass | — |
| Resin System | Ultra-low-loss thermoset | — |
Technical Highlights
224G PAM4 Capable
Supports emerging 224 Gbps PAM4 SerDes with less than 0.6 dB/inch insertion loss at 56 GHz Nyquist, enabling direct chip-to-module connections without retimers.
AI Infrastructure Grade
Designed for GPU-to-GPU fabric boards in AI training clusters where 112G links span 14+ inches across 50-layer backplanes.
Low CTE Z-axis
~35 ppm/°C CTE provides superior via reliability in 40–60 layer builds, reducing risk of barrel cracking during thermal cycling.
IT-968SE vs. Competing Materials
| Property | IT-968SE | Megtron 7 | Astra MT77 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dk @ 10 GHz | 3.16 | 3.13 | 3.00 |
| Df @ 10 GHz | 0.0015 | 0.0015 | 0.0017 |
| Tg (°C) | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Td (°C) | 380 | 400 | 360 |
| CTE Z-axis | 35 ppm/°C | 30 ppm/°C | 45 ppm/°C |
| Availability | Excellent | Constrained | Good |
| Relative Cost | $$ | $$$$ | $$ |
IT-968SE matches Megtron 7 electrically while offering dramatically better availability and 30–50% lower material cost — the top choice for AI-era infrastructure builds at scale.
Target Applications
AI Server Interconnect
GPU cluster backplanes for NVIDIA HGX and custom AI training platforms
800G Switch Backplanes
102.4T fabric switches with 112G/224G SerDes per lane
Optical Transceiver Hosts
800G OSFP/QSFP-DD module host boards with 4×200G channels
HPC Interconnect
High-performance computing fabrics and supercomputer node cards
5G/6G Infrastructure
Next-gen base station digital boards and fronthaul equipment
Semiconductor ATE
Automated test equipment probe cards and load boards for 112G+ SerDes testing
Design Guidance
Stackup Recommendations
- Use IT-968SE spread glass prepreg (1067/1080) on all signal layers for minimum skew
- Target 3.0–3.5 mil dielectric for tight 85Ω/100Ω differential impedance
- Consider hybrid stackups with IT-968SE signal layers and lower-cost power plane cores to optimize cost
Processing Tips
- Mandatory HVLP copper foil (Rz ≤ 2 µm) to achieve published Df performance
- Back-drill all through-vias to within 5 mil of nearest signal layer for 112G channels
- Pre-bake at 105°C for 4h minimum on builds exceeding 30 layers
Why AtlasPCB for IT-968SE?
ITEQ Partnership
Direct sourcing from ITEQ with priority allocation and full CoC traceability
SI Simulation Support
In-house signal integrity simulation and insertion loss budgeting for 112G+ channels
Ultra-Tight Tolerances
±5% impedance on 112G diff pairs with VNA-grade verification up to 50 GHz
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ITEQ IT-968SE PCB fabrication
What is the Df of ITEQ IT-968SE?
IT-968SE has a dissipation factor (Df) of 0.0015 at 10 GHz, placing it in the same ultra-low-loss tier as Panasonic Megtron 7 and making it suitable for 112G+ PAM4 applications.
How does IT-968SE compare to Megtron 7?
IT-968SE matches Megtron 7 electrical performance (Df 0.0015) while offering significantly better availability and a lower cost point, especially for volume production runs sourced from Asian fabricators.
What are the primary applications for IT-968SE?
IT-968SE targets 112G and 224G PAM4 SerDes in AI/ML server clusters, 800G switch backplanes, optical transceiver host boards, and next-generation HPC interconnects.
Is IT-968SE suitable for high-layer-count designs?
Yes. IT-968SE supports 30–60 layer builds with its spread glass construction providing excellent resin flow and registration accuracy during sequential lamination.
What lead time can I expect for IT-968SE PCBs from AtlasPCB?
AtlasPCB maintains ITEQ material partnerships for IT-968SE. Prototype lead times are typically 7–10 working days; production runs 15–20 days depending on layer count and complexity.
Build Your Next-Gen Design with IT-968SE
Upload your Gerber files and stackup requirements. Our SI engineers will validate your loss budget and recommend the optimal build configuration.
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