A model-by-model look at the Rogers 5000 series: what each grade’s Dk and loss figures are for, and how to pick between them on frequency and board area.
The Rogers 5000 series covers high-frequency microwave and RF laminates built on a PTFE base with glass fibre and ceramic fillers. The family is used across communications, radar, aerospace and automotive electronics, largely because it combines low dielectric loss with a dielectric constant that does not wander much over temperature or frequency. The models within the series differ mainly in Dk, loss and thermal behaviour, and picking between them is mostly a question of matching those differences to the application. Here is what each model is for.
Every grade in the family shares the same platform, which is worth understanding before comparing the numbers:
The series spans a Dk range of roughly 2.2 to 3.5. The table below puts the headline electrical figures side by side; the notes after it explain what each grade is actually chosen for. For a wider view of how the family fits alongside other Rogers materials, see our 5000 series performance overview.
| Model | Dk @10 GHz | Df @10 GHz | Chosen For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rogers 5870 | 2.33 | 0.0012 | High-gain antennas and microwave circuits |
| Rogers 5880 | 2.20 | 0.0009 | Lowest loss in the family; millimeter-wave and satellite |
| Rogers 6002 | 2.94 | 0.0012 | Compact phased-array and high-density microwave designs |
| Rogers 6202 | 2.94 | 0.0017 | High-power RF and temperature-sensitive circuits |
| Rogers 6302 | 3.02 | 0.0018 | Compact antennas, filters and microstrip circuits |
| Rogers 6500 | 3.48 | 0.0030 | Higher field control; power and microwave amplifiers |
With a Dk of 2.33 and a Df of 0.0012, the 5870 sits at the low-loss end without going to the extreme. It is the natural choice for high-gain antennas, microwave circuits and filters where efficient transmission matters but the design does not need the absolute lowest loss available. Its parameters are close enough to the 5880 that the two are often compared on the same shortlist.
The 5880 is the lowest-loss grade in the series at Dk 2.20 and Df 0.0009, and it is the one most often specified for aerospace, satellite communications and millimeter-wave work. Its low Dk also raises propagation velocity, which helps in high-signal-integrity designs where delay budget is tight. Full figures are in our RT5870 and RT5880 datasheet summary.
A step up in Dk to 2.94 allows tighter circuit features for the same frequency, which is why the 6002 appears in phased-array radar and high-density microwave devices. Electrical performance stays stable at high frequency; the trade is that a higher Dk shortens wavelength, so line dimensions must be laid out more carefully.
The 6202 shares the 6002 dielectric constant but is specified for better stability at elevated temperature. That makes it the grade for high-power RF circuits, amplifier modules and dense antenna arrays where the board has to keep its numbers while it is dissipating heat.
At Dk 3.02 the 6302 supports smaller circuits while keeping good thermal stability. It is typically found in compact antennas, filters and microstrip circuits where board area is the constraint and a moderate increase in Dk is an acceptable price for shrinking the layout.
The 6500 has the highest dielectric constant in the series at 3.48, with a moderate loss of 0.0030. Higher Dk concentrates fields more tightly, which is useful when the design needs stronger electric field control. Power amplifiers, microwave amplifiers and high-frequency filters are its usual home. Where a millimeter-wave design needs the lowest possible loss instead, the reasoning is set out in our 5880 millimeter-wave overview.
The applications follow directly from the electrical profile rather than from marketing categories.
Two questions usually settle the choice. What is the highest frequency the board will see, and how much loss can the link tolerate? If loss is the binding constraint, the 5880 answers it and nothing else in the family does better. If board area is the constraint, the higher-Dk grades such as the 6302 or 6500 let you shrink the layout at a modest cost in loss. Between those two extremes the 6002 and 6202 cover most compact microwave work, with the 6202 preferred wherever the board runs warm. Our 5880 parameter reference gives the detailed figures if you want to check a specific design against them.
Frequently Asked Questions
A PTFE base reinforced with glass fibre and ceramic filler. Every grade shares that platform and the same broad process behaviour, so the differences between models come down to Dk, loss and thermal range rather than to different materials.
The 5880, at Df 0.0009 and Dk 2.20 at 10 GHz. The 5870 is close behind at Df 0.0012, and the two are often compared for the same antenna and filter work.
Because a higher Dk shortens the guided wavelength for a given frequency, which lets the conductor pattern shrink. When board area or element spacing is the binding constraint, that trade is worth making.
It is broadly compatible with FR-4 tooling, which is one of its practical advantages. PTFE-based laminates still need adjusted drilling and via preparation, but the family does not require a separate process line.
When the design needs a much higher dielectric constant for field control, or a lower-cost material for a moderate-frequency product. The 5000 series is optimised for low loss, and paying for that on a low-frequency board is wasted budget.
Tell us the frequency band, the loss budget and the board area you have to work with, and we will tell you which grade the numbers support.
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