Shengyi PCB Material Selection Guide: S1000-2 vs S1000H vs S1141

A practical engineer’s guide to selecting the right Shengyi PCB laminate for your project. Compare S1000-2, S1000H, and S1141 specifications, applications, and cost considerations.

After spending over a decade working with various PCB laminates across consumer electronics, automotive, and industrial projects, I’ve learned that material selection can make or break a design. Shengyi Technology (SYTECH) has become my go-to supplier for FR-4 laminates, and for good reason—they offer consistent quality at competitive pricing, especially for projects manufactured in Asia.

This guide focuses on three Shengyi PCB materials that cover about 80% of typical design requirements: S1141, S1000H, and S1000-2. I’ll walk you through the technical specifications, real-world applications, and decision criteria based on what I’ve learned from actual production runs.

Understanding Shengyi PCB Materials

Shengyi Technology, headquartered in Dongguan, China since 1985, has grown to become the world’s second-largest copper-clad laminate (CCL) manufacturer. Their Shengyi PCB materials are used across industries ranging from smartphones to automotive radar systems.

What makes Shengyi PCB laminates attractive for most projects is the combination of reliable performance, global availability, and cost-effectiveness. When you’re manufacturing in China—where a significant portion of global PCB production happens—using locally sourced Shengyi materials eliminates import delays and reduces overall project costs.

Key Parameters That Matter for Material Selection

Before diving into specific materials, let’s establish the parameters that actually influence your design decisions:

• Glass Transition Temperature (Tg): The temperature where the laminate transitions from rigid to soft. Higher Tg materials handle lead-free reflow better.
• Decomposition Temperature (Td): When the resin starts breaking down chemically. Critical for reliability under thermal stress.
• Z-axis CTE: Thermal expansion through the board thickness. Lower values mean better via reliability.
• T288 (Time to Delamination): How long the material survives at 288°C. Directly impacts your soldering process window.
• CAF Resistance: Conductive Anodic Filament resistance prevents electrical shorts from moisture-induced metal migration.

Detailed Shengyi PCB Material Comparison

Let’s examine each material in detail. I’ve organized this from lowest to highest performance tier, which generally correlates with cost.

Shengyi S1141: The Cost-Effective Standard

S1141 is Shengyi’s conventional FR-4 material and the most economical option in their lineup. It’s suitable for standard applications where extreme thermal demands aren’t present.

S1141 Key Specifications

Parameter	Value	Test Method
Tg (Glass Transition)	140°C	DSC
Td (Decomposition)	310°C	TGA, 5% wt loss
Z-axis CTE (50-260°C)	4.5%	TMA
T288	>2 min	TMA
Dk (1MHz)	4.6	IPC-TM-650
Df (1MHz)	0.015	IPC-TM-650
Water Absorption	0.15%	IPC-TM-650
Flammability	UL 94 V-0	UL94
IPC Specification	IPC-4101/21	–

S1141 Best Applications:

• Consumer electronics (TVs, game consoles, audio equipment)
• Simple 2-4 layer boards with standard copper weights (1oz or less)
• Cost-sensitive projects with moderate thermal requirements
• Prototype development where material cost matters

Limitations: Not recommended for boards exceeding 12 layers, heavy copper (>2oz), HDI designs, or applications requiring CAF resistance. The relatively short T288 time limits the soldering process window.

Shengyi S1000H: The Versatile Mid-Tg Performer

S1000H sits in the sweet spot for most professional PCB designs. It offers significantly better thermal performance than S1141 while remaining cost-competitive. This is the material I recommend as the default choice for general-purpose designs.

S1000H Key Specifications

Parameter	Value	Test Method
Tg (Glass Transition)	155°C	DSC
Td (Decomposition)	348°C	TGA, 5% wt loss
Z-axis CTE (50-260°C)	2.8-3.0%	TMA
T288	>20 min	TMA
Dk (1MHz)	4.5	IPC-TM-650
Df (1MHz)	0.014	IPC-TM-650
Water Absorption	0.09%	IPC-TM-650
CAF Resistance	Excellent	IPC-TM-650
IPC Specification	IPC-4101/99	–

S1000H Best Applications:

• Multilayer PCBs up to 12 layers
• Lead-free assembly processes
• Automotive electronics (non-safety critical)
• Industrial control systems
• Computer motherboards and notebooks
• Power supplies and instrumentation

Why I prefer S1000H: The T288 value exceeding 20 minutes provides substantial margin for lead-free reflow. Combined with good CAF resistance and lower Z-CTE, this material handles multiple thermal cycles without compromising via integrity. It’s comparable to Isola FR406 in performance but typically more accessible when PCB manufacturing in Asia.

Shengyi S1000-2: High-Tg for Demanding Applications

S1000-2 represents Shengyi’s high-performance FR-4 offering. When your design pushes the limits—high layer counts, thick copper, or extreme thermal requirements—this is the material to specify.

S1000-2 Key Specifications

Parameter	Value	Test Method
Tg (Glass Transition)	170-180°C	DSC
Td (Decomposition)	340-345°C	TGA, 5% wt loss
Z-axis CTE (50-260°C)	2.4-2.8%	TMA
T288	>20 min	TMA
T300	>5 min	TMA
Dk (1MHz)	4.4	IPC-TM-650
Df (1MHz)	0.013	IPC-TM-650
CAF Resistance	Excellent	IPC-TM-650
IPC Specification	IPC-4101/126	–

S1000-2 Best Applications:

• High layer count PCBs (12+ layers)
• Heavy copper designs (>2oz inner layers)
• High aspect ratio vias (>8:1)
• Server and networking equipment
• Telecommunication infrastructure
• BGA-heavy designs with fine pitch components

Variant Note: Shengyi also offers S1000-2M with slightly enhanced properties (Tg 180°C, Z-CTE 2.4%). Consider this variant for the most demanding applications where you need every bit of thermal margin.

Side-by-Side Comparison: Which Shengyi PCB Material to Choose

Here’s a direct comparison to help you make the right choice for your specific application:

Parameter	S1141	S1000H	S1000-2
Tg (°C)	140	155	170-180
Td (°C)	310	348	340-345
Z-CTE (%)	4.5	2.8-3.0	2.4-2.8
T288 (min)	>2	>20	>20
CAF Resistance	No	Yes	Yes
Max Layers	8-10	12	16+
Cost Level	$	$$	$$$
Lead-Free	Limited	Yes	Yes

Complete Shengyi PCB Material Product Family

Beyond the three main materials covered above, Shengyi offers a comprehensive product portfolio. Here’s an overview of their key product lines:

Standard FR-4 Series

Part Number	Tg (°C)	Td (°C)	Description
S1141	140	310	Standard FR-4, UV blocking
S1000	155	335	Low CTE, mid-Tg
S1000H	155	348	Mid-Tg, lead-free, CAF resistant
S1000-2	180	345	High Tg, excellent thermal
S1000-2M	180	355	Enhanced S1000-2, lower CTE
S1190	200	350	Ultra-high Tg, high layer count
S1600	135	310	High CTI (600V)

Halogen-Free Series

For RoHS compliance and environmental regulations:

Part Number	Tg (°C)	Td (°C)	Description
S1150G	155	355	Halogen-free, mid-Tg
S1165	165	360	Halogen-free, regulated markets
S1170G	180	390	Halogen-free, high Tg, FR-15.1

High-Frequency and High-Speed Series

For RF, microwave, and high-speed digital applications:

• S7136H: Hydrocarbon ceramic, Dk 3.48, Df 0.003 @10GHz. FR-4 processable.
• SCGA-500 GF220: PTFE woven glass, Dk 2.20, ultra-low loss for mmWave.
• SCGA-500 GF255: PTFE woven glass, Dk 2.55, RF/microwave applications.
• Synamic 6N: Low-loss HSD material, compatible with FR-4 processing.
• mmWave77: Specialized PTFE for 77GHz automotive radar (ADAS).

Practical Material Selection Decision Guide

Based on my experience, here’s a practical decision framework:

Choose S1141 When:

1. Your board is 4 layers or fewer
2. Operating temperature stays below 100°C
3. You’re doing prototype development and cost matters
4. The product is consumer-grade with limited thermal cycling
5. CAF resistance isn’t a requirement

Choose S1000H When:

1. You need a reliable default for professional designs
2. Your board is 6-12 layers
3. Lead-free assembly is required
4. The product will experience thermal cycling
5. You need CAF resistance for reliability
6. Manufacturing is in Asia (cost and availability advantage)

Choose S1000-2 When:

• Your design exceeds 12 layers
• You have heavy inner layer copper (>2oz)
• High aspect ratio vias (>8:1) are present
• The application involves servers, networking, or telecom
• Maximum thermal reliability is required
• You need equivalence to Isola 370HR or ITEQ IT180A

Useful Resources and Datasheet Downloads

Here are official resources for Shengyi PCB material specifications:

Official Shengyi Technology Resources:

• Shengyi Technology Official Website: www.syst.com.cn
• Shengyi USA (English): www.shengyi-usa.com
• Product Catalog: syst.com.cn/en/product

Datasheet Downloads:

• S1141 Datasheet: Download PDF
• S1000-2 Datasheet: Download PDF
• S1000H Datasheet: AllDatasheet

Industry Standards:

• IPC-4101: Base Materials for Rigid and Multilayer PCBs
• IPC-TM-650: Test Methods Manual
• UL 94: Standard for Flammability of Plastic Materials

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between S1000H and S1000-2?

The primary difference is glass transition temperature: S1000H has a Tg of 155°C while S1000-2 offers 170-180°C. S1000-2 also provides better Z-axis CTE (2.4-2.8% vs 2.8-3.0%), making it more suitable for high layer counts and heavy copper applications. For most designs up to 12 layers, S1000H provides excellent performance at lower cost. Choose S1000-2 when you need maximum thermal reliability or have designs exceeding 12 layers.

Is Shengyi material equivalent to Isola or Rogers?

For standard FR-4 applications, Shengyi materials offer comparable performance. S1000H is roughly equivalent to Isola FR406 (Tg 150), while S1000-2/S1000-2M compares to Isola 370HR and ITEQ IT180A. However, for high-frequency applications requiring ultra-low loss, Rogers materials typically outperform Shengyi’s PTFE offerings, though Shengyi’s S7136H and SCGA-500 series are competitive alternatives at lower price points.

Can I use S1141 for lead-free assembly?

Technically yes, but with limitations. S1141’s T288 time of only 2+ minutes provides minimal margin for lead-free reflow temperatures (peak around 260°C). For reliable lead-free assembly, especially with multiple reflow cycles or rework, I strongly recommend S1000H or S1000-2 which offer T288 times exceeding 20 minutes. This extra margin protects against delamination during assembly.

Which Shengyi material is best for automotive applications?

For standard automotive electronics, S1000H handles the temperature requirements well. For under-hood applications or safety-critical systems requiring AEC-Q100 compliance, use S1000-2 or S1000-2M for the higher Tg and better thermal reliability. For ADAS radar applications (77GHz), Shengyi’s mmWave77 PTFE material is specifically designed for automotive millimeter-wave frequencies.

How do I verify I’m getting genuine Shengyi material?

Request material certifications from your PCB manufacturer. Genuine Shengyi laminates come with lot traceability and UL certification. Look for the SYTECH marking on laminate edges. Reputable manufacturers like PCBWay and JLCPCB have switched to Shengyi as their standard material and can provide material certificates upon request. When in doubt, ask for a cross-section analysis of a test coupon to verify material properties.

Final Thoughts

Selecting the right Shengyi PCB material doesn’t have to be complicated. For most professional designs, S1000H offers the best balance of performance, cost, and availability. Step up to S1000-2 when your design demands it, and use S1141 when cost optimization is the priority and thermal demands are modest.

Remember that material selection is just one aspect of PCB reliability. Work closely with your fabricator to ensure proper processing parameters, and don’t hesitate to request material certifications for critical applications.