Isola MT77 DataSheet
| Tg | 200 °C |
| Td | 360 °C |
| Dk (Dielectric Constant) | 3.00 |
| Df (Dissipation Factor) | 0.0017 |
Isola Astra MT77 is a high-performance laminate and prepreg engineered for RF/microwave and millimeter-wave circuits. It maintains compatibility with standard FR-4 manufacturing processes while offering superior electrical properties, such as minimal signal loss across a broad frequency spectrum and reliable operation in elevated temperature environments. This makes it an ideal choice for advanced commercial wireless applications.
Isola Group Overview
Isola Group operates as a worldwide leader in producing copper-clad laminates for the PCB industry, with a manufacturing footprint that spans the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Its North American facilities are strategically located on both coasts, while its European plant is situated in Düren, Germany. Asian manufacturing is supported by four sites, evenly split between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan. The company specializes in advanced materials, including high-Tg FR-4, solutions for high-speed digital designs, and products for RF/microwave applications, with its primary market revenue originating from Asia.
High-Speed Digital (HSD) Portfolio
For high-speed digital (HSD) designs, Isola provides a portfolio featuring I-Speed, I-Tera MT40, and Tachyon 100G. These materials form the foundation for next-generation solutions like the TerraGreen 400G series, which are halogen-free laminates and prepregs engineered for exceptional signal integrity at speeds of 100 Gb/s and beyond.
RF/Microwave Portfolio
The selection of circuit substrates for high-frequency RF/microwave applications includes Astra MT77, the RF/microwave-grade I-Tera MT40, and the IS680/IS680 AG laminate series.
Isola Astra MT77 – Detailed Features
Isola's TerraGreen series offers halogen-free circuit substrates suitable for a variety of standard applications, with the TerraGreen 400G (RF/MW) variants specifically engineered for radio frequency, microwave, and higher-frequency operations. These materials feature exceptionally low signal loss, allowing circuits to perform effectively into the millimeter-wave spectrum, reaching frequencies as high as 110 GHz.
As high-speed digital (HSD) and RF/microwave designs trend toward greater circuit density and miniaturization, selecting appropriate base materials becomes essential. Knowledge of how different substrates—such as those from Isola’s HSD and RF/MW portfolios—interact in terms of properties like coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) ensures long-term reliability in hybrid multilayer PCBs. High-frequency laminates like MT77 and I-Tera MT40 are process-compatible with FR-4, simplifying the fabrication of hybrid constructions.
The introduction of Isola’s MT77 laminate and prepreg systems has garnered significant interest from PCB manufacturers, particularly for use in next-generation millimeter-wave applications.
Isola presented the Astra MT77 material during the 2019 IEEE IMS Microwave Week, highlighting its suitability for automotive radar and remote antenna systems. Growing adoption in advanced driver-assistance functions—such as adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, and blind-spot monitoring—is projected to increase demand for these laminates in the near future. Additional applications include lane-keeping assistance and automatic emergency braking systems.
The MT77 material maintains stable electrical performance across a broad temperature range (–40 °C to +140 °C), offering consistent dielectric constant (Dk) even in the W-band and an ultra-low dissipation factor (Df) of 0.0017. These properties make it well-suited for millimeter-wave designs requiring minimal signal loss. With its competitive cost structure, MT77 serves as a practical alternative to PTFE and other high-frequency laminates.