Definition

Rogers RO4003C is a thermoset hydrocarbon ceramic laminate that offers RF performance while processing like FR-4. Dk 3.38 ±0.05 (process) at 10 GHz, Df 0.0027, CTE 11/14/46 ppm/°C, Tg >280°C, thermal conductivity 0.71 W/m·K. Unlike PTFE, RO4003C requires no sodium etch treatment and bonds well with FR-4 in hybrid stackups. It's halogen-free but not UL 94V-0 rated, which may matter for some certifications. Cost runs 2-5x FR-4. Use RO4003C for UHF through X-band (up to ~10 GHz) applications where standard FR-4 loss is unacceptable but PTFE processing is overkill. Common in WiFi, GPS, and cellular front-ends.