Introduction to ITEQ IT-968G

Why Data Center Switch PCBs Need Ultra-Low Loss Materials

Key Features of ITEQ IT-968G

Electrical & Thermal Properties (Table)

Signal Integrity Performance in 100G/400G Systems

Comparison with Standard FR-4 and Other Low-Loss Materials

Design Considerations (PCB Engineer Perspective)

Manufacturing Compatibility & Process Notes

Applications in Data Centers and Telecom

Advantages & Limitations

Useful Resources (Datasheets, Downloads)

FAQs

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ITEQ IT-968G: Halogen-Free Very Low-Loss PCB for Data Center Switches

What is ITEQ IT-968G?

ITEQ IT-968G is a high-performance PCB laminate and prepreg material engineered for high-speed digital systems, especially data center switches, server backplanes, and telecom infrastructure.

From an engineering standpoint, it sits in the category between enhanced FR-4 and high-end low-loss materials, offering a balance of cost, manufacturability, and signal performance.

According to official material data, IT-968G features:

High Tg (~175°C)

Ultra-low loss tangent (~0.005 @ 10 GHz)

Low dielectric constant (~3.59 @ 10 GHz)

Halogen-free formulation

Designed for 100G / 400G switching platforms 聯茂電子股份有限公司+1

�� If you’re sourcing this material or fabrication services, you can check:
ITEQ PCB: https://www.pcbsync.com/ITEQ-pcb/

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Why Data Center Switch PCBs Need Very Low-Loss Materials

Modern switch ASICs (Tomahawk, Trident, Jericho class) push:

25G / 56G / 112G PAM4 signaling

Multi-lane SerDes > 28 GHz

Backplane loss budgets under tight margins

In real layouts, the dominant problems are:

Insertion loss (IL)

Return loss (RL)

Crosstalk

Fiber weave skew

Traditional FR-4 simply cannot maintain signal integrity beyond ~10–15 GHz.

ITEQ IT-968G solves this by lowering dielectric loss, which directly reduces attenuation and improves eye diagrams.

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Key Features of ITEQ IT-968G

1. Ultra-Low Loss Performance

Df ≈ 0.005 @ 10 GHz

Reduced insertion loss → longer trace routing distance

2. Low Dielectric Constant

Dk ≈ 3.59 @ 10 GHz

Faster signal propagation

Better impedance control

3. High Thermal Reliability

Tg: ~175°C

Td: ~400°C PCB Directory

4. Halogen-Free Composition

Meets environmental and safety requirements

Reduced toxic emissions in failure scenarios

5. Stable Electrical Properties

Consistent Dk/Df across temperature & humidity

Critical for outdoor telecom or dense data centers QFPCB 印刷电路板和PCBA制造

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Electrical & Thermal Properties of ITEQ IT-968G

�� Core Material Parameters

Property	Value	Test Condition
Tg (Glass Transition)	175°C	TMA
Td (Decomposition)	400°C	TGA
Dk @ 10 GHz	3.59 (RC55%)	IPC TM-650
Df @ 10 GHz	0.0050	IPC TM-650
CTE (Z-axis)	45 → 260 ppm/°C	Thermal expansion
Moisture Absorption	0.15%	IPC
Surface Resistivity	10⁹ MΩ	IPC
Volume Resistivity	10¹⁰ MΩ·cm	IPC

Source: Wasabi+1

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Signal Integrity Performance in High-Speed Systems

From real design experience, ITEQ IT-968G behaves predictably in SI simulation:

Advantages in SI:

Lower dielectric loss → improved insertion loss

Reduced phase distortion

Better eye height at receiver

Typical Use Cases:

100G Ethernet (NRZ)

400G Ethernet (PAM4)

High-layer-count backplanes

Compared to mid-loss materials, IT-968G allows:

~15–25% longer trace routing

Lower equalization burden on SerDes

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Comparison: IT-968G vs FR-4 vs High-End Materials

�� Material Comparison Table

Property	FR-4	IT-968G	Rogers / Megtron 6
Dk @ 10 GHz	~4.2	3.59	3.0–3.4
Df @ 10 GHz	~0.015–0.02	0.005	0.002–0.004
Tg	130–150°C	175°C	180–220°C
Cost	Low	Medium	High
Process	Standard	FR-4 compatible	Special

Engineer Insight:

ITEQ IT-968G hits a sweet spot:

Better SI than FR-4

Much cheaper than Megtron / Rogers

Compatible with standard fabrication

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PCB Design Considerations (Engineer Perspective)

1. Stackup Design

Use low-profile copper (VLP/HVLP)

Optimize dielectric thickness for impedance

2. Trace Design

Avoid long via stubs

Use back-drilling for >25G

3. Loss Budget Planning

Include:

Conductor loss

Dielectric loss

Connector loss

4. Simulation Notes

Use frequency-dependent Dk/Df

Validate with S-parameters

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Manufacturing Compatibility

One of the biggest advantages of ITEQ IT-968G:

✔ Compatible with Modified FR-4 Processes

No need for exotic lamination cycles

Works with standard PCB factories

✔ Good CAF Resistance

Reduced conductive anodic filament risk

Better reliability in humid environments QFPCB 印刷电路板和PCBA制造

✔ Lead-Free Assembly Ready

Survives multiple reflow cycles

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Typical Applications

Data Center Infrastructure

Spine/leaf switches

High-speed backplanes

Telecom Equipment

Base stations

Optical transport systems

Enterprise Hardware

Servers

Storage arrays

ITEQ explicitly positions IT-968G for:

Servers

Switches

Backplanes 聯茂電子股份有限公司

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Advantages and Limitations

✅ Advantages

Excellent cost-performance ratio

Stable SI across environments

Halogen-free (eco-compliant)

Manufacturable at scale

⚠️ Limitations

Not as low-loss as Megtron 6/7

Still requires careful stackup design

Slightly higher cost than FR-4

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Useful Resources for Engineers

�� Datasheets & Technical Docs

ITEQ Official IT-968G Datasheet

ITEQ Product Page (High Tg Very Low Loss)

�� Recommended Tools

Polar SI9000 (impedance modeling)

Keysight ADS / Ansys HFSS (simulation)

Saturn PCB Toolkit

�� Industry References

IPC-4101 / IPC-4103 standards Wasabi

IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet standards)

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FAQs About ITEQ IT-968G

1. Is ITEQ IT-968G suitable for 400G switch design?

Yes. It is specifically optimized for 100G/400G high-speed applications, offering low loss and stable impedance. 聯茂電子股份有限公司

2. How does IT-968G compare to FR-4?

It has ~3–4× lower loss, better thermal stability, and improved signal integrity.

3. Can IT-968G be processed like standard FR-4?

Yes, it is compatible with modified FR-4 processes, reducing manufacturing complexity. 聯茂電子股份有限公司

4. Is it environmentally friendly?

Yes, it is halogen-free, meeting modern environmental requirements.

5. What frequency range is IT-968G suitable for?

Typically used up to 25–40 GHz range, depending on design and stackup.

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Final Thoughts (Engineer Perspective)

From practical PCB design experience, ITEQ IT-968G is not just another “low-loss material”—it’s a strategic choice for engineers balancing:

Performance

Cost

Manufacturability

If you’re designing data center switches, high-speed backplanes, or telecom hardware, this material offers a reliable middle ground between FR-4 and premium laminates.