Part of the rigid-flex circuit board resource.
Material selector
Build a material discussion list from your operating requirements.
Enter your requirements to begin. JavaScript is required for calculations.
Use requirements to structure the material discussion
The selector turns five project inputs into a material-system checklist. It suggests families and the questions to resolve, rather than assigning a catalog part number from incomplete information. Its recommendations cover the flex base, conductor foil, coverlay, rigid dielectric, bonding material, and localized support. The finished board must be evaluated as a system because interfaces and assembly exposure can matter as much as the properties of an individual sheet.
Temperature is more than a single rating
Enter the maximum operating temperature you expect the assembly to experience. The tool uses temperature as a prompt for additional review, not as a pass-or-fail qualification threshold. Glass-transition temperature, decomposition behavior, thermal expansion, adhesive properties, and long-term exposure are different considerations. A laminate with a high Tg does not automatically authorize a finished rigid-flex assembly to operate continuously at that temperature.
Motion changes the copper and construction review
Repeated bending increases the importance of a representative mechanical qualification. The selector highlights rolled annealed foil as a starting discussion point for dynamic duty and asks for the actual grade, thickness, and grain direction. Static installation permits a broader discussion of qualified constructions. Neither option guarantees the required radius or life. Include travel, bend direction, restraints, temperature, and cycle expectations with the material request.
Impedance needs material data and geometry
When controlled impedance is selected, request frequency-relevant dielectric data, copper profile information, pressed dielectric thickness, and a coupon strategy. Coverlay and adhesive are part of the electrical construction. Different rigid and flex regions may require different trace dimensions to meet the same nominal impedance. This tool does not calculate trace width or transmission-line behavior; that work follows the approved material stack and signal requirements.
Budget sensitivity should expose useful alternatives
A cost-sensitive selection prompts review of compatible stocked materials and the process implications of specialty grades. It does not silently replace an essential material with a cheaper one. Ask the manufacturer which alternatives preserve the electrical, mechanical, and environmental requirements and what qualification would be needed. Compare the complete installed assembly, including additional connectors or handling operations, if the construction is simplified.
Halogen-free is a system requirement
If your specification requires halogen-free materials, request declarations for the relevant complete construction: flex and rigid laminates, bonding materials, coverlay adhesives, soldermask, and any other applicable materials. A declaration for one substrate is not evidence for every layer. State the test method, applicable definition, and procurement requirement in the controlled documents so the supplier can answer a specific question.
Convert suggestions into an approved bill of materials
Use the output as an agenda for a stack review. Record the manufacturer and material designation, thickness, allowed substitutes, storage requirements, conditioning, and assembly limits. Identify any requirement that remains provisional. Use the quote button to carry the input criteria to the RFQ, then attach material specifications and a regional stackup. Approval should apply to the actual proposed construction, not to a generic recommendation generated by the website.
Related design decisions
Review the design guidelines, regional stackup guide, material-system requirements, and cost comparison guide alongside these results.
Questions about this tool
Does this select an exact laminate part number?
No. It suggests material families and the evidence needed for a final selection.
Is Tg the operating-temperature limit?
No. Review the complete material system and its applicable long-term and assembly requirements.
Does selecting RA copper guarantee dynamic life?
No. Test the actual stack, routing, restraints, and operating conditions.