Drone PCB Material Selection Guide：How to Choose the Right PCB Material for UAV Applications
Table of Contents
- Why PCB Material Matters in UAVs
- Material Comparison: Rogers vs PTFE vs FR4-TG170 vs Polyimide
- Application-Based Recommendation
- Expert Advice From Real UAV Projects
- Talk to Our Engineers Before You Decide
- Related Pages
Why PCB Material Matters in UAVs
Different drones have different missions—but all rely on a stable PCB backbone to ensure signal integrity, heat resistance, and lightweight form factors. The wrong substrate can lead to:
- Signal delay in real-time FPV feeds
- RF interference in radar modules
- Warping under high temperature loads
- Weak adhesion and delamination in high-vibration flight
Material Comparison: Rogers vs PTFE vs FR4-TG170 vs Polyimide
| Material | Dielectric Strength | Tg (Glass Transition °C) | Signal Loss | Weight | Cost | Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rogers 4350B | Excellent | 280°C | Very Low | Moderate | High | High-frequency RF, radar drones |
| PTFE | Superior | >300°C | Ultra-low | Low | Very High | Military UAV, EMI-sensitive modules |
| FR4-TG170 | Good | 170°C | Moderate | Moderate | Affordable | General-purpose drones, flight controller PCB |
| Polyimide | Excellent | 260°C | Low | Very Low | Medium | Flex PCBs, foldable drone structures |
Note: While Rogers and PTFE offer superior RF characteristics, FR4-TG170 remains the best balance for budget builds, and polyimide is preferred in flex/rigid-flex applications like foldable UAV arms.
Looking to reduce weight without compromising strength? We also support aluminum-backed and metal-core PCB designs for thermal-critical drone modules.
Application-Based Recommendation
- FPV Drone: FR4-TG170 or Polyimide
- AI-Powered UAV (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson TX2 onboard): Rogers 4350B
- Defense or Surveillance Drone: PTFE or Rogers with EMI shielding
- Foldable or Lightweight Drone: Polyimide (flex-rigid stackups)
Expert Advice From Real UAV Projects
"In one of our projects for a NATO supplier, Rogers 4350B was selected for an AI drone radar interface. It significantly improved signal-to-noise ratio at long ranges."
— RichPCBA Technical Lead
"For a client making foldable consumer drones, switching to polyimide reduced board cracking and increased flex-life by 4x."
— Project Manager, Flex PCB Division
Talk to Our Engineers Before You Decide
We've helped over 150 drone manufacturers in Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S. design mission-appropriate PCB stackups. Whether you're uncertain about dielectric loss, thermal coefficients, or lamination stability, we're here to help.
Request a Free Material Evaluation Now
