Advanced Institute Technology LCP Coating: Gold, Silver, Copper, Nickel, Titanium, Chromium Full Series Metalization

1、 Why LCP film has become the core substrate for high-frequency communication

With the accelerated evolution of 5G towards 5.5G and even 6G, the communication frequency band continues to extend towards the millimeter wave region, and the attenuation of signals in transmission media becomes increasingly significant. Liquid crystal polymer (LCP) films are becoming the preferred material for high-frequency and high-speed flexible circuit substrates due to their excellent dielectric properties.

The dielectric constant of LCP can be as low as 2.9, and the loss factor can be as low as 0.001-0.003 (@ 10GHz), maintaining stable dielectric performance in the ultra wideband range of 1GHz to 75GHz. At the same time, the water absorption rate of LCP film is less than 0.1%, and the extremely low moisture absorption effectively avoids the scattering and absorption of high-frequency signals by moisture. LCP also has high strength, high heat resistance, extremely low coefficient of linear expansion, and excellent flame retardancy, making it suitable for high-end fields such as aerospace, military, and 5G communication.

2、 The technical challenges and breakthrough path of LCP thin film metallization

LCP film itself is an excellent insulating material, and in order for it to function in high-frequency circuits, it must be metalized. However, the surface energy of LCP is relatively low (about 32mN/m), with strong chemical inertness, making it difficult for the metal layer to firmly adhere directly.

Advanced Institute of Technology adoptsPhysical vapor deposition (PVD) process combining magnetron sputtering and vacuum evaporationMetal atoms are deposited on the surface of LCP thin films in a vacuum environment. The company has independently builtRoll to roll continuous vacuum coating production lineMetal layers can be continuously deposited on the surface of flexible polymer films to achieve large-scale production.

At critical process stages, the company utilizesPlasma pretreatment technologySurface activation treatment of LCP film to increase surface roughness and active sites; adoptGradient transition layer process(such as titanium Ti or chromium Cr transition layer), to achieve stress transition from the substrate to the functional metal layer. By combining this technology, the adhesion of the gold layer on the surface of LCP can reach5B level standard——The highest level of adhesion testing in the industry.

3、 Full range of metalized product matrix

Advanced Institute Technology provides the following full range of metallization solutions for LCP thin films:

Gold plating (Au)The main functional coating has good conductivity (resistivity of about 2.44 μ Ω· cm), strong oxidation resistance, and biocompatibility. The thickness of gold-plated LCP film can be customized within the range of 50 μ m to 100 μ m. In the application of 5G antenna substrates, the thickness of the gold layer is controlled between 0.1~0.5 μ m to ensure signal transmission efficiency and avoid a decrease in flexibility due to excessive thickness of the gold layer. The low-temperature gold plating process developed by the company reduces the film processing temperature to below 150 ℃, avoiding damage to the LCP molecular structure caused by high temperatures.��Learn more about LCP gold-plated film →

Copper plating (Cu)The core conductor material of high-frequency copper-clad laminate (LCP-FCCL). LCP-FCCL is made by using LCP film as the dielectric substrate and applying low profile electrolytic copper foil or rolled copper foil on one or both sides through high-temperature vacuum lamination process. The thermal expansion coefficient of LCP is similar to that of copper (LCP is about -5~5ppm/° C, copper is about 17ppm/° C), it is not easily deformed at high temperatures, and can withstand high temperature processes such as SMT surface mounting.

Silver plating (Ag)Extremely high conductivity (resistivity of about 1.59 μ Ω· cm), suitable for high-frequency scenarios such as 5G/6G millimeter wave antennas and flexible circuit boards, but prone to sulfurization and blackening, requiring the use of a protective layer.

Nickel plating (Ni)Mainly used as a barrier layer to prevent copper diffusion, it is also commonly coated with gold and tin composites (such as Ni/Au, Ni/Sn).

Tin plating (Sn)Used for solderable surface treatment of LCP-FPC pads.

Titanium plating (Ti) and chrome plating (Cr)As a transition layer, although not a functional layer, it is the key to enhancing the adhesion of precious metals on LCP. Research has shown that integrating a 500nm thick sputtered Cr/Au film onto a 25 μ m thick LCP substrate does not reduce the bonding strength of the thin metal layer, and the embedded wires can maintain structural and electrical integrity during bonding and aging processes.

Suitable substrates include various flexible polymer materials such as FEP, PI, PET, LCP, PPS, PEN, PP, etc., and can be plated with metals including gold, silver, copper, aluminum, tin, nickel, titanium, platinum, etc. The uniformity of the coating can reach ± 5%, and it can maintain stable performance even under repeated bending or high and low temperature environments; The low-temperature plating solution formula controls the thermal shrinkage rate of the material within 0.05%.
��View product details of conductive materials →

4、 Typical application scenarios

5G/6G millimeter wave communicationThe LCP millimeter wave antenna module integrates millimeter wave array antennas, feeders, and RF interconnects on a flexible structure using LCP film/copper-clad laminate as the carrier. The gold-plated LCP film jointly developed by Advanced Institute Technology and ZTE Corporation has been widely applied in 28GHz millimeter wave base stations, with single base station signal attenuation reduced to 0.3dB/m. The Huawei Mate 60 series adopts a three-layer LCP gold-plated film stacking design, which improves antenna efficiency to 88%.

Automotive millimeter wave radarThe 77GHz/79GHz vehicle mounted radar requires extremely high consistency in material resistance to moisture aging and vibration. LCP can maintain electrical parameter stability even under humid and extreme temperature cycles, and has become an essential material for high-end millimeter wave antenna PCBs.

consumer electronicsApplied in fields such as mobile phone antenna FPC, laptops, smart wearable devices, etc. The gold-plated LCP film can withstand 200000 folds and is suitable for wearable device needs.

AerospaceThe density of gold-plated LCP film is only 1.4g/cm ³, which is 60% lighter than traditional metal materials. The gold layer can effectively reflect cosmic rays. The gold-plated LCP film developed by Advanced Institute Technology for the Long March series rockets has been applied to the insulation layer of the engine combustion chamber. The product complies with GJB 773A military standard.

Medical DevicesGold plated LCP film is suitable for medical devices such as cardiovascular catheters, endoscopes, and radiofrequency ablation electrodes due to its biocompatibility.

5、 Frontier exploration: Niobium titanium (NbTi) opens up a new dimension of superconductivity

Niobium titanium (NbTi)Represents the forefront exploration direction of LCP thin film metallization. NbTi alloy is the main representative of low-temperature superconducting materials, with a critical temperature of about 9-10K. It combines high critical current density and excellent low-temperature mechanical properties, and accounts for about 95% of low-temperature superconducting alloys.

Antennas, resonators, filters and other microwave communication devices made of superconducting thin films have high sensitivity that conventional materials such as gold and silver cannot match. Advanced Institute Technology has conducted experimental research on LCP thin film coated with niobium titanium. Test data shows that at the GHz frequency band, the signal attenuation rate of LCP thin film coated with niobium titanium is reduced by about 30% compared to traditional materials. Although LCP based NbTi thin films are still in the experimental research stage, their potential applications in terahertz antennas, superconducting filters, and other fields are worth looking forward to.

6、 Company Qualifications and Quality Assurance

Advanced Institute (Shenzhen) Technology Co., LtdEstablished in 2016, headquartered in Bao'an District, Shenzhen, we are a national high-tech enterprise specializing in shielding materials, insulation materials, thermal conductive materials, and precious metal coatings. The company owns the independently registered trademark "Yanbo" and has production bases in Shenzhen and Dongguan, as well as business liaison points in multiple parts of the country.

The company's R&D team has independent research and development capabilities in the fields of flexible substrate coating, electronic paste, electromagnetic shielding materials, etc., and has passedISO9001 Quality Management System CertificationThe product complies withGJB 773A related military standardsandRoHS environmental requirementsCapable of supporting high-end fields such as aerospace, military, and 5G communication.

The company can provide customers with customized services throughout the entire process, supporting the adjustment of parameters such as film width (10-620mm), coating thickness, and tolerance range according to their needs. From material pretreatment, surface treatment, coating deposition to finished product inspection, precise control and process optimization have been achieved throughout the entire process.

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