Saudi plastics manufacturer Sabic has introduced the LNP THERMOCOMP OFC08V compound, which is well suited for dipole antennas in 5G base stations and other electrical and electronic applications. LNP (Liquid Nitrogen Processing) is a composite material that supports the development of lightweight and cost-effective plastic antennas for 5G network infrastructure as urbanization increases and smart cities emerge.
"To advance the prospects of 5G in terms of higher speed and data loads with very low latency, RF antenna manufacturers are currently revolutionizing their designs, materials and processes," explains Joshua Chiaw, Director Business Management LNP & NORYL at Sabic. "Our latest high-performance LNP THERMOCOMP compound helps in manufacturing by avoiding post processing. It achieves excellent performance in several critical areas. Sabic is targeting the faster expansion of next-generation network technology."
The presented glass fiber reinforced material based on a polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) resin achieves excellent plating performance through Laser Direct Structuring (LDS), strong layer adhesion, good bending behavior, high heat resistance and stable dielectric and RF performance. This combination of properties enables the design of dipole antennas by injection molding. It thus offers advantages over traditional PCB assembly by selective electroplating of plastic and metal electroplating by LDS. With these properties, it is listed by LPKF Laser & Electronics as an approved thermoplastic material for LDS.
The LDS-capable material offers greater simplicity and higher productivity. After injection molding, LDS only requires laser structuring and chemical deposition. LNP THERMOCOMP OFC08V realizes all the performance advantages of the glass-filled PPS resin, including high heat resistance in PCB assembly by SMT and low flammability (UL-94 V0 at 0.8 mm). The dielectric constant is 4.0 and the dissipation factor is 0.0045.
