Nvidia recently announced plans to utilize PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) material for the NVSwitch boards in its Rubin Ultra platform. This design employs a PTFE layer as the core, combined with M9-grade prepreg, thereby leveraging the superior signal performance of PTFE while maintaining the mechanical structural integrity associated with M9-grade copper-clad laminates (CCL).
What is PTFE?
PTFE - Poly(tetrafluoroethylene), CAS NO.: 9002-84-0, commonly known as "the king of plastics".
It is produced by polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene. It is characterized by resistance to high and low temperatures (-190°C to 260°C), corrosion resistance, and chemical inertness; historically, it has been used primarily for non-stick cookware coatings, chemical seals, and anti-corrosive piping.
Today, thanks to its exceptional dielectric properties-specifically ultra-low Dk and Df-PTFE meets the rigorous material performance requirements for high-frequency, high-speed signal transmission. It is widely used in high-end electronic communication sectors, including 5G/6G base stations, satellite communications, automotive radar, high-speed data centers, and AI computing hardware.
Why did Nvidia set its sights on it?
What has truly propelled PTFE to center stage in the era of AI computing power is its exceptional electrical properties.
PTFE is one of the polymers with the best dielectric performance in current commercial systems, boasting a dielectric constant of just 2.1 and a dielectric loss as low as 0.0004, while remaining minimally affected by fluctuations in temperature and frequency.
Thanks to its irreplaceable low-dielectric properties, PTFE has become the optimal candidate material for the core resin of M10-grade high-frequency PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards).
Current Issues and Solutions:
PTFE resin entails high barriers to purification, presents difficulties in processing and molding, and incurs high processing costs.
The industry ultimately settled on a hybrid lamination architecture-combining a PTFE core layer with an M9 substrate-rather than a complete replacement with a single material.
Future Outlook:
Whoever is the first to break through the bottlenecks in the industrialization of high-end PTFE will secure a pivotal position in the supply chains for three high-growth sectors where new materials are in high demand: AI, new energy, and semiconductors.
