ITEQ IT-968SE: Halogen-Free Very Low-Loss Laminate for 56Gbps+ Designs

Introduction to ITEQ IT-968SE

Why 56Gbps+ PCB Materials Matter

What Makes ITEQ IT-968SE Unique

Electrical Performance Analysis (Dk / Df / SI)

Thermal & Reliability Characteristics

Material Comparison vs FR-4 and Other Low-Loss Laminates

Design Considerations for PCB Engineers

Manufacturing & Processing Notes

Typical Applications (5G, AI, Networking)

Practical Stackup Example

Useful Resources & Datasheets

FAQs

Conclusion

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Introduction: Why Engineers Are Choosing ITEQ IT-968SE

As data rates move beyond 56Gbps PAM4 and toward 112Gbps, traditional PCB materials struggle to maintain signal integrity. Loss budget becomes the bottleneck—not routing or topology.

That’s where ITEQ IT-968SE comes in.

From an engineering standpoint, this material sits in a sweet spot:

Lower loss than mid-tier FR-4 derivatives

More cost-effective than PTFE or Megtron 7

Compatible with standard PCB fabrication processes

The result: a practical, production-ready laminate for high-speed digital and RF designs.

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Why 56Gbps+ Designs Demand Better Materials

At 56Gbps PAM4:

Nyquist frequency ~14 GHz

Channel insertion loss becomes critical

Skin effect + dielectric loss dominate

Standard FR-4 simply cannot keep up:

Df ~0.015–0.020 → excessive attenuation

Poor Dk stability → impedance drift

By contrast, ITEQ IT-968SE offers ultra-low loss (Df < 0.004 @ 10GHz) hemeixinpcb.com

This is the key enabler for:

Long backplane channels

High-speed connectors

Reduced need for retimers

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Key Features of ITEQ IT-968SE

Electrical & Material Highlights

Property	Typical Value	Why It Matters
Dk @ 10GHz	~3.3–3.4	Stable impedance
Df @ 10GHz	~0.003–0.004	Low insertion loss
Tg (DSC)	~185°C	Thermal stability
Td	~400°C	Reliability under reflow
CTE (Z-axis)	~2.2%	Via reliability

These values directly translate into:

Better eye diagrams

Lower BER

Longer channel reach

The low Dk/Df combination ensures minimal signal distortion and improved SI performance hemeixinpcb.com+1

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Electrical Performance Deep Dive

1. Dielectric Constant (Dk)

ITEQ IT-968SE maintains stable Dk across frequency:

Frequency	Dk
1 GHz	~3.4
5 GHz	~3.35
10 GHz	~3.34

Low Dk reduces:

Signal delay

Crosstalk

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2. Dissipation Factor (Df)

Frequency	Df
1 GHz	~0.0027
5 GHz	~0.0035
10 GHz	~0.0038

This ultra-low loss is critical for:

Backplane >30 inches

56G SerDes links

Lower Df = lower insertion loss = cleaner eye opening.

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3. Signal Integrity (SI) Advantage

From a PCB engineer’s perspective:

Stable Dk/Df → easier simulation

Predictable impedance → fewer tuning iterations

Reduced equalization requirements

ITEQ materials are known for consistent electrical properties across frequency and environment nwengineeringllc.com

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Thermal & Reliability Characteristics

Thermal Performance Table

Property	Value
Tg	185°C
Td	400°C
T260	>60 min
T288	>60 min

This ensures:

Multiple reflow cycles

Lead-free compatibility

Long-term reliability

CAF & Moisture Resistance

Moisture absorption ~0.12% hemeixinpcb.com

Excellent CAF resistance

This is critical for:

Dense HDI designs

Long lifecycle telecom systems

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Halogen-Free Advantage

ITEQ IT-968SE is halogen-free, meaning:

Meets environmental regulations (RoHS)

Lower toxic emissions during burn

Preferred in telecom & automotive

For OEMs, this is no longer optional—it’s a requirement.

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Comparison: ITEQ IT-968SE vs Other PCB Materials

Material Comparison Table

Material	Df @10GHz	Cost	Use Case
FR-4 (Std)	0.015–0.020	Low	<10Gbps
Mid-loss FR-4	~0.008	Medium	25Gbps
ITEQ IT-968SE	~0.003–0.004	Medium+	56Gbps+
Megtron 6	~0.002	High	112Gbps
PTFE	<0.001	Very High	RF/mmWave

Engineer Insight

ITEQ IT-968SE is ideal when:

You need 56G performance

But don’t want Megtron-level cost

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PCB Design Guidelines for IT-968SE

Stackup Design Tips

Use low-profile copper (VLP / HVLP)

Control roughness (Rz < 2µm recommended)

Optimize dielectric thickness for impedance

Routing Considerations

Keep differential skew minimal

Avoid excessive vias

Use back-drilling for long vias

Simulation Notes

Always use frequency-dependent Dk/Df

Include copper roughness models

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Manufacturing Considerations

ITEQ IT-968SE is process-friendly:

Compatible with FR-4 fabrication lines

Supports multilayer builds (2–60 layers) Highleap Electronic

Works with standard lamination cycles

Key Notes for Fabricators

Drill wear slightly higher than FR-4

Resin flow control is important

Press cycle optimization recommended

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Typical Applications of ITEQ IT-968SE

High-Speed Digital

56G / 112G backplanes

AI accelerators

Data center switches

RF & Wireless

5G base stations

Antenna arrays

Radar systems

Networking

Routers

Line cards

Optical modules

ITEQ IT-968SE is widely used in servers, storage, and telecom systems requiring high-speed performance Shenzhen KKPCB Technology Co., Ltd.

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Example Stackup (Practical Engineer View)

Layer	Type	Notes
L1	Signal	High-speed diff pairs
L2	Ground	Reference plane
L3	Signal	Stripline
L4	Power	Stable supply
L5	Signal	Critical routing
L6	Ground	Shielding

Key idea:

Keep high-speed signals as stripline

Maintain tight impedance control

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Useful Resources for Engineers

Datasheets & Technical Files

IT-968SE Datasheet (ITEQ official)

Dk/Df vs frequency tables nextpcb.com

Fabrication guidelines

Recommended External Resource

�� ITEQ PCB Solutions

Simulation Tools

Polar Si9000

Keysight ADS

Ansys HFSS

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FAQs About ITEQ IT-968SE

1. Is ITEQ IT-968SE suitable for 56Gbps PAM4?

Yes. With Df ~0.003–0.004, it comfortably supports 56Gbps and even early 112G designs.

2. How does it compare to Megtron 6?

Megtron 6 has lower loss, but IT-968SE is significantly more cost-effective.

3. Can it be processed like FR-4?

Mostly yes. It is designed for compatibility with standard PCB processes.

4. Is it good for RF applications?

Yes—especially sub-20GHz RF and antenna designs.

5. What copper type should be used?

HVLP or VLP copper is strongly recommended for best performance.

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Conclusion: When to Choose ITEQ IT-968SE

From a PCB engineer’s perspective, ITEQ IT-968SE is a highly practical material:

Excellent balance of performance and cost

Proven reliability in telecom and data center systems

Easy integration into existing manufacturing lines

If your design target is:

56Gbps

Long channels

Controlled cost

Then IT-968SE is one of the most sensible choices available today.