Advances in substrate technology

Substrate materials play an essential role in microstrip antenna design, production and finished-product performance. Several aspects of materials must be considered in the design stage when substrates are selected. What may seem ideal from a design viewpoint must be balanced against production and final product requirements. Ability to measure and control critical properties, especially relative permittivity and dissipation factor, cannot be ignored. The possible adverse effects of necessary processing steps or environment in the final application must be taken into account. Successful antenna production will depend on the use of appropriate processing techniques. New substrate types and special substrate features are becoming increasingly available and often can offer significant advantages for designers and producers.