Improved Radio Frequency (RF) Polymer Substrates for Antennas

In this SBIR proposal, BerrieHill Research Corporation working with the ElectroScience Laboratory and the MicroMD Facility at The Ohio State University shall identify and develop novel magnetic RF polymers that have relatively high permittivity and permeability while exhibiting low loss at frequencies above 1 GHz, yielding proof of principle data to substantiate the potential of these materials to yield large area films or structures (15 by 15 inch minimum) that are suitable for use as antenna substrates and superstrates. Emphasis shall be placed on two key technologies. The first involves recent advances in hexaferrite magnetic materials, and the second involves recent advances to systematically arrange, three-dimensionally, material inclusions in a polymer matrix. Newly developed high permeability, low-loss hexaferrites shall be obtained and state-of-the-art 3-D fabrication methods shall be used to form magnetic RF polymers that are superior to conventional antenna fabrication materials (e.g. Duroid, Teflon, etc.). This team shall provide an integrated effort in the development, testing, and application of these new materials for specific uses in microwave devices, with fabrication of a spiral antenna to be demonstrated to show the potential for conformal antenna miniaturization.