Liquid crystal polymer LCP

spore: profile
id: lcp
spore_version: 0.2
family: polyesters
name: Liquid crystal polymer
abbreviation: LCP
role: high-performance thermoplastic for low-loss RF and flexible electronics
category: polymers
type: polyesters
summary: |
  LCP is a partially crystalline aromatic polyester that stays ordered in the melt. Goodfellow lists an unfilled Vectra A950 rod with a heat deflection temperature of 220 °C at 0.45 MPa and a dielectric constant of 3 at 1 MHz. Georgia Tech papers give a dielectric constant of 3.1 that is nearly flat from RF to 110 GHz, with a loss tangent of 0.002 that rises to 0.0045 at 110 GHz. Insertion loss on 3- and 5-mil LCP substrates rose about 20% at 75 °C and 50% or more at 125 °C. Zenite, an LCP, flew on the outside of the ISS in the MISSE-FF experiment from July 2022, but no published erosion or outgassing result for LCP was found in the sources read.
best_for: Low-loss RF substrates and flexible circuits where the dielectric constant and moisture uptake must stay stable in humid air
weakest_at: Loss rises with temperature, about 20% more line loss at 75 °C and 50% or more at 125 °C, and no space-exposure result for LCP was found
identity:
  formula: Thermotropic aromatic polyester based on p-hydroxybenzoic acid and related monomers (a class of polymers, not one formula)
  source: wikipedia-lcp
  where: Opening section on chemical composition; the page calls LCPs partially crystalline aromatic polyesters based on p-hydroxybenzoic acid and related monomers
tags:
  environments:
    - low-earth-orbit
  stresses:
    - extreme-heat
  applications:
    - electronics-and-chips
properties:
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, Vectra A950 unfilled rod
    value: 1.4
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Vectra A950 (Vectra A), unfilled
      form: rod, 18 mm diameter
    method: Value printed in the distributor property table; test method not stated
    status: ground
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Physical Properties table, Density row
  - benchmark: heat_deflection_temperature
    label: Heat deflection temperature, Vectra A950 rod
    value: 220
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      load: 0.45 MPa
      grade: Vectra A950 rod, unfilled
    method: Value printed in the distributor thermal table; test standard not named
    status: ground
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Thermal Properties table, Heat-deflection temperature row at 0.45 MPa
  - benchmark: heat_deflection_temperature
    label: Heat deflection temperature, Vectra A950 rod
    value: 180
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      load: 1.8 MPa
      grade: Vectra A950 rod, unfilled
    method: Value printed in the distributor thermal table; test standard not named
    status: ground
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Thermal Properties table, Heat-deflection temperature row at 1.8 MPa
  - benchmark: max_service_temp
    label: Upper working temperature, Vectra A950 rod
    value: 200
    value_high: 220
    bound: range
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: upper working temperature as printed, a range
    method: Range printed in the distributor thermal table; test not stated
    status: ground
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Thermal Properties table, Upper working temperature row
  - benchmark: min_service_temp
    label: Lower working temperature, Vectra A950 rod
    value: -200
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: lower working temperature as printed
    method: Value printed in the distributor thermal table; test not stated
    status: ground
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Thermal Properties table, Lower working temperature row
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation at break, Vectra A950 rod
    value: 3
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Vectra A950 rod, unfilled
      test: not stated
    method: Value printed in the distributor mechanical table; test standard not named
    status: ground
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Mechanical Properties table, Elongation at break row
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile strength, Vectra A950 rod (range as printed)
    value: 55
    value_high: 165
    bound: range
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Vectra A950 rod, unfilled
      test: not stated
      note: one printed range, not separate values per direction
    method: Range printed in the distributor mechanical table; test method not stated
    status: ground
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Mechanical Properties table, Tensile strength row
  - benchmark: dielectric_constant
    label: Dielectric constant of LCP, RF to 110 GHz
    value: 3.1
    unit: '-'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      frequency: RF range up to 110 GHz
      basis: nearly constant over the entire RF range as stated in the paper
    method: Stated in the introduction of an LCP microwave paper, which cites an earlier characterisation
    status: ground
    source: vyas-aps07
    where: Introduction, paragraph 2
  - benchmark: dielectric_constant
    label: Dielectric constant, Vectra A950 rod
    value: 3
    unit: '-'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      frequency: 1 MHz
      grade: Vectra A950 rod, unfilled
    method: Value printed in the distributor electrical table, measured at 1 MHz
    status: ground
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Electrical Properties table, Dielectric constant row
  - benchmark: dissipation_factor
    label: Dissipation factor, Vectra A950 rod
    value: 0.02
    unit: '-'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      frequency: 1 MHz
      grade: Vectra A950 rod, unfilled
    method: Value printed in the distributor electrical table at 1 MHz
    status: ground
    note: The microwave paper gives a far lower loss tangent at RF; the two values use different test frequencies and are not directly comparable.
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Electrical Properties table, Dissipation factor row
  - benchmark: dissipation_factor
    label: Loss tangent of LCP at RF
    value: 0.002
    unit: '-'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      frequency: RF, rising to 0.0045 at 110 GHz
    method: Stated in the introduction of an LCP microwave paper, which cites an earlier characterisation
    status: ground
    source: vyas-aps07
    where: Introduction, paragraph 2
  - benchmark: dissipation_factor
    label: Loss tangent of LCP at 110 GHz
    value: 0.0045
    unit: '-'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      frequency: 110 GHz
    method: Stated in the introduction of an LCP microwave paper, which cites an earlier characterisation
    status: ground
    source: vyas-aps07
    where: Introduction, paragraph 2
  - benchmark: dielectric_strength
    label: Dielectric strength, Vectra A950 rod
    value: 47
    unit: kV/mm
    scope: material
    conditions:
      thickness: 1.5 mm
      grade: Vectra A950 rod, unfilled
    method: Value printed in the distributor electrical table
    status: ground
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Electrical Properties table, Dielectric strength row at 1.5 mm
  - benchmark: moisture_absorption
    label: Water absorption at equilibrium, Vectra A950 rod
    value: 0.03
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: equilibrium
      grade: Vectra A950 rod, unfilled
    method: Value printed in the distributor physical table; test conditions not stated
    status: ground
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Physical Properties table, Water absorption equilibrium row
  - benchmark: moisture_absorption
    label: Water absorption over 24 hours, Vectra A950 rod
    value: 0.02
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: 24 hours
      grade: Vectra A950 rod, unfilled
    method: Value printed in the distributor physical table; test conditions not stated
    status: ground
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Physical Properties table, Water absorption over 24 hours row
  - benchmark: moisture_absorption
    label: Water absorption of LCP, upper bound quoted in the paper
    value: 0.04
    bound: upper
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: low and stable water absorption, quoted as below 0.04 %
    method: Stated in the introduction of an LCP microwave paper
    status: ground
    source: vyas-aps07
    where: Introduction, paragraph 1
  - benchmark: limiting_oxygen_index
    label: Limiting oxygen index, Vectra A950 rod
    value: 35
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Vectra A950 rod, unfilled
      test: not stated
    method: Value printed in the distributor physical table; test standard not named
    status: ground
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Physical Properties table, Limiting oxygen index row
  - benchmark: thermal_conductivity
    label: Thermal conductivity, Vectra A950 rod
    value: 0.18
    unit: W/(m·K)
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 23 °C
      grade: Vectra A950 rod, unfilled
    method: Value printed in the distributor thermal table at 23 °C
    status: ground
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Thermal Properties table, Thermal conductivity row
  - benchmark: specific_heat
    label: Specific heat, Vectra A950 rod
    value: 1000
    unit: J/(kg·K)
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Vectra A950 rod, unfilled
      temperature: not stated
    method: Value printed in the distributor thermal table; test conditions not stated
    status: ground
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Thermal Properties table, Specific heat row
  - benchmark: cte
    label: Coefficient of thermal expansion, Vectra A950 rod, as printed
    value: -80
    unit: ppm/K
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Vectra A950 rod, unfilled
      direction: not stated
    method: Value printed as negative in the distributor thermal table (x10 to the power -6 per kelvin); direction and test not stated
    status: ground
    note: Printed as negative; the sign and direction are unconfirmed, and it is not compared with the film range on the IEEE overview.
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Thermal Properties table, Coefficient of thermal expansion row
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: Melting range of commercial LCP grades (class range, not one grade)
    value: 280
    value_high: 350
    bound: range
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: class range across commercial LCP grades, not one grade
    method: Range stated in the numerical property table of the IEEE Technology Navigator LCP overview
    status: ground
    source: ieee-technav-lcp
    where: Numerical property table, Melting point row
  - benchmark: transmission_line_loss_increase
    label: Increase in transmission-line loss at 75 °C, 3- and 5-mil LCP
    value: 20
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 75 °C
      reference: 25 °C baseline
      substrate: 3- and 5-mil LCP
      frequency: 10 to 110 GHz
    method: Measured on hot-chuck test structures in the paper, quoted as approximately 20%
    status: ground
    source: thompson-mwcl
    where: Abstract; Results (loss increases)
  - benchmark: transmission_line_loss_increase
    label: Increase in transmission-line loss at 125 °C, 3- and 5-mil LCP
    value: 50
    bound: lower
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 125 °C
      reference: 25 °C baseline
      substrate: 3- and 5-mil LCP
      frequency: 10 to 110 GHz
    method: Measured on hot-chuck test structures in the paper, quoted as 50% or more
    status: ground
    source: thompson-mwcl
    where: Abstract; Results (loss increases)
corrosion:
  - environment: Humid air, moisture uptake
    headline: Water uptake stays very low, so the dielectric properties hold up with humidity.
    effect: Goodfellow lists 0.03 % equilibrium water absorption and 0.02 % after 24 hours. The IEEE Technology Navigator says LCP typically absorbs below 0.02 % by weight, and that polyimide, by comparison, can absorb up to 3 % by weight, which shifts its high-frequency behaviour.
    rating: low
    conditions:
      basis: distributor and overview values; test conditions not stated
      grade: Vectra A950 rod for the Goodfellow values
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Physical Properties table (water absorption rows)
  - environment: Humid air, LCP compared with polyimide
    headline: The IEEE overview says LCP stays near hermetic under humidity, unlike polyimide.
    effect: The IEEE Technology Navigator describes LCP as near-hermetic in moisture and says its dielectric constant stays stable with humidity, unlike polyimide, which can absorb up to 3 % by weight.
    rating: low
    conditions:
      basis: qualitative overview statement with typical values
    source: ieee-technav-lcp
    where: Moisture absorption entry
  - environment: Heat in operation, 75 °C to 125 °C
    headline: Heat raises the RF loss of LCP lines, and the rise is larger at 125 °C.
    effect: On 3- and 5-mil LCP substrates, insertion loss rose about 20% at 75 °C and 50% or more at 125 °C, measured from 10 to 110 GHz. The authors say these figures can be used as a design guide for LCP circuits exposed to elevated operating temperatures.
    rating: moderate
    conditions:
      reference: 25 °C baseline
      substrate: 3- and 5-mil LCP
      frequency: 10 to 110 GHz
    source: thompson-mwcl
    where: Abstract
  - environment: Continuous heat, upper working temperature
    headline: The distributor lists an upper working temperature of 200 to 220 °C, but no ageing data at that temperature were found.
    effect: The printed figure is a working limit, not a test result. No long-term heat-ageing, mechanical retention or hydrolysis study for an LCP grade was found in the sources read.
    rating: unknown
    conditions:
      exposure: not stated
      grade: Vectra A950 rod, unfilled
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Thermal Properties table, Upper working temperature row
  - environment: Ultraviolet light
    headline: UV resistance is rated good on the datasheets read, but without test data, and a fibre form of LCP warns of UV degradation.
    effect: The Goodfellow page rates UV resistance as Good with no exposure figures. The Vectran LCP fibre datasheet states that Vectran suffers from UV degradation. Vectran is a melt-spun fibre, not the Vectra moulding grade, so the warning is about a different product form.
    rating: unknown
    conditions:
      exposure: not stated
      product_form: Vectra A950 rod for the Goodfellow rating; Vectran fibre for the warning
    source: vectran-lcp-fibre
    where: Why Vectran page, bullet on UV degradation
  - environment: Chemical exposure, qualitative ratings
    headline: Most solvents, oils and alkalis are rated good or fair, but concentrated acids are rated good to poor.
    effect: Goodfellow rates concentrated acids as Good-Poor, dilute acids as Good, alkalis as Good-Fair, aromatic hydrocarbons, greases and oils as Good, and ketones as Good. These are qualitative ratings with no exposure times.
    rating: moderate
    conditions:
      basis: qualitative rating table, no exposure times or concentrations stated
    source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
    where: Chemical Resistance section
  - environment: Low Earth orbit, atomic oxygen and vacuum ultraviolet
    headline: Zenite was flown on the ISS exterior, but no erosion or outgassing result for LCP was found.
    effect: MISSE-FF, launched July 2022, carried 14 materials including LCP (Zenite). The MISSE-16 paper names Zenite as a focus material, but the results it reports are for Kapton CS and Mylar MO21.
    rating: unknown
    conditions:
      exposure: ISS exterior, MISSE-FF flight duplicate and space-aged samples
      result: not reported for LCP in the paper read
    source: nasa-misse-16
    where: Section 2.1 Materials
risks:
  hazards:
    - text: The Goodfellow page lists a V0 flammability rating at 0.8 mm and a limiting oxygen index of 35 %. It is a flame-retardant grade, but the page gives no decomposition products and no GHS classification.
      ghs: []
      source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
      where: Physical Properties table, Flammability and Limiting oxygen index rows
  failure_risks:
    - mode: Insertion-loss rise at elevated temperature
      trigger: Operating RF lines at 75 °C to 125 °C
      consequence: On 3- and 5-mil LCP substrates, transmission-line loss rose about 20% at 75 °C and 50% or more at 125 °C.
      severity: moderate
      source: thompson-mwcl
      where: Abstract
    - mode: Brittleness under strain
      trigger: Bending or straining the rod stock beyond its elongation at break
      consequence: The distributor gives an elongation at break of 3 %, so the rod grade does not stretch far before it breaks.
      severity: moderate
      source: goodfellow-vectra-a950
      where: Mechanical Properties table, Elongation at break row
  side_effects: []
  handling:
    - text: Thermotropic LCPs can only be processed when the melting temperature is far below the decomposition temperature, so they are melt processed on conventional equipment.
      source: wikipedia-lcp
      where: Processing section
  mitigations:
    - text: Design RF circuits for about 20% more line loss at 75 °C, as the paper suggests for circuits that will run hot.
      source: thompson-mwcl
      where: Abstract (design guide statement)
uses:
  - application: electronics-and-chips
    device: Flexible RF and microwave circuit substrates
    example: LCP keeps a nearly constant dielectric constant of 3.1 across the RF range up to 110 GHz, and its loss tangent rises only from 0.002 to 0.0045 at 110 GHz. The paper calls LCP very suitable for mm-wave applications.
    source: vyas-aps07
    where: Introduction, paragraph 2
  - application: electronics-and-chips
    device: Automotive radar modules
    example: The IEEE Technology Navigator lists 77 GHz and 79 GHz as automotive radar frequencies that use LCP circuits.
    source: ieee-technav-lcp
    where: Application frequencies entry
documents:
  - title: Vectra A950 LCP rod, Goodfellow property table (distributor product page)
    type: datasheet
    url: https://www.goodfellow.com/eu/vectra-a950-lcp-rod-group
    year: 2026
  - title: 'Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP): The Ultimate Solution for Low-Loss RF Packaging (Georgia Tech, APS 2007)'
    type: paper
    url: https://tentzeris.ece.gatech.edu/APS07_Vyas.pdf
    year: 2007
  - title: High Temperature Dielectric Stability of Liquid Crystal Polymer at mm-Wave Frequencies (IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, 2005)
    type: paper
    url: https://tentzeris.ece.gatech.edu/MWCL_Dane_ThermalLCP_4_2005.pdf
    year: 2005
  - title: MISSE 16 Mission IOC II (NASA, MISSE-FF Zenite and Kapton CS)
    type: report
    url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014252/downloads/JShah_MISSE-16%20Mission_IOC%20II_final.pdf
    year: 2023
  - title: Vectran liquid crystal polymer fibers datasheet (melt-spun LCP fibre, a different product form)
    type: datasheet
    url: https://colormatrix.polyone.com/sites/default/files/2021-06/fl.us-.datasheet-vectranr-lcp.pdf
    year: 2021
gaps:
  - No melting point, density or heat deflection value for Zenite or for a named Vectra B grade was found. The Celanese, Material Data Center and SpecialChem pages are behind a login or returned an error, and the UL Prospector page returned HTTP 403.
  - No safety data sheet or GHS classification for an LCP grade was found. The hazard entry rests on the Goodfellow flammability rating only, and no decomposition products are documented.
  - No atomic-oxygen erosion yield, outgassing (TML/CVCM) or radiation result for LCP was found. MISSE-16 names Zenite but reports results only for Kapton CS and Mylar MO21.
  - 'Supply: no producer shares by country, feedstock abundance or critical-mineral listing were found for LCP. The supply entry is a placeholder and carries no share.'
  - limiting_oxygen_index is not a canonical name in spores/property-canon.yaml; it is used here as a snake_case name.
  - 'Dielectric values are at different test frequencies: 3 and 0.02 at 1 MHz from the distributor, against 3.1, 0.002 and 0.0045 at RF and 110 GHz from the Georgia Tech paper. They are not directly comparable.'
  - The Goodfellow CTE of -80 ppm/K is printed without a direction or test; the IEEE overview gives 6 to 17 ppm/°C for LCP films, which is a film range and is not entered here.
  - The Vectran datasheet gives a melt point of 350 °C in its table and 330 °C in its text. Neither is used, because Vectran is a fibre and not the Vectra moulding grade.
  - No long-term heat-ageing, humid-ageing or hydrolysis study for an LCP grade was found. UV and chemical resistance are qualitative ratings with no exposure times.
  - No Vectra B or Zenite property value was found. Vectra A950 is the only grade with a datasheet-level property table in the sources read.
sources:
  goodfellow-vectra-a950:
    title: Vectra A950 LCP rod, Goodfellow product page with property table
    id: Goodfellow Metals, Vectra A950 LCP rod (Vectra A grade, unfilled, 18 mm rod)
    url: https://www.goodfellow.com/eu/vectra-a950-lcp-rod-group
    year: 2026
    kind: datasheet
    license: distributor product page, cited not reproduced
  ieee-technav-lcp:
    title: Liquid crystal polymers, IEEE Technology Navigator overview
    id: IEEE Technology Navigator topic page
    url: https://technav.ieee.org/topic/liquid-crystal-polymers/
    year: 2026
    kind: web
    license: IEEE overview page, cited not reproduced
  wikipedia-lcp:
    title: Liquid-crystal polymer, Wikipedia
    id: 'Wikipedia article: Liquid-crystal polymer'
    url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid-crystal_polymer
    year: 2026
    kind: web
    license: CC BY-SA (Wikipedia)
  wikipedia-vectra:
    title: Vectra (plastic), Wikipedia
    id: 'Wikipedia article: Vectra (plastic)'
    url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vectra_(plastic)
    year: 2026
    kind: web
    license: CC BY-SA (Wikipedia)
  vyas-aps07:
    title: 'Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP): The Ultimate Solution for Low-Loss RF Packaging (APS 2007, Georgia Tech)'
    id: APS 2007, Vyas, Tentzeris group, Georgia Tech
    url: https://tentzeris.ece.gatech.edu/APS07_Vyas.pdf
    year: 2007
    kind: paper
    license: author-hosted copy, cited not reproduced
  thompson-mwcl:
    title: High Temperature Dielectric Stability of Liquid Crystal Polymer at mm-Wave Frequencies (IEEE MWCL)
    id: IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, Thompson, Papapolymerou, Tentzeris, 2005
    url: https://tentzeris.ece.gatech.edu/MWCL_Dane_ThermalLCP_4_2005.pdf
    year: 2005
    kind: paper
    license: author-hosted copy, cited not reproduced
  nasa-misse-16:
    title: MISSE 16 Mission IOC II, NASA NTRS report on Kapton CS, Mylar MO21 and Zenite LCP
    id: NASA NTRS 20230014252
    url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014252/downloads/JShah_MISSE-16%20Mission_IOC%20II_final.pdf
    year: 2023
    kind: report
    license: public domain (NASA)
  vectran-lcp-fibre:
    title: Vectran liquid crystal polymer fibers datasheet (melt-spun LCP fibre)
    id: Vectran LCP fibre datasheet, ColorMatrix PDF
    url: https://colormatrix.polyone.com/sites/default/files/2021-06/fl.us-.datasheet-vectranr-lcp.pdf
    year: 2021
    kind: datasheet
    license: supplier document, linked not reproduced
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-26'
review:
  status: draft
  method: assistant
  checked_values: 22
  unreachable: 3
  caveats: 2
  note: Written by an AI assistant on 2026-10-26 from fetched pages. Values come from a distributor table, two Georgia Tech papers and an IEEE overview. Celanese, SpecialChem and UL Prospector pages were behind a login or returned an error, so no Vectra B or Zenite property value is included.
story:
  recipe:
    line: LCP is a partially crystalline aromatic polyester made from p-hydroxybenzoic acid and related aromatic monomers. Its rigid aromatic units keep the chains ordered in the melt, so the polymer is processed above its melting range.
    parts:
      - name: p-Hydroxybenzoic acid
        role: Main rigid monomer named in the composition description; it builds the rod-like backbone of the chain.
      - name: Related aromatic monomers
        role: Other aromatic acids or diols used with it. The exact mix is proprietary and is not given in the sources read.
  risk_groups:
    - title: For people
      level: 0
      verdict: No hazard classification found
      lead: No safety data sheet for an LCP grade was found. The only hazard data read is a flammability rating, so check the supplier's safety data sheet before handling.
      points:
        - label: Burning
          line: The distributor rates the Vectra A950 rod V0 at 0.8 mm, with a limiting oxygen index of 35 %. It resists flame, but the sources give no decomposition products for a fire.
    - title: If the part overheats
      lead: These figures come from measured test structures, not from field incidents.
      points:
        - label: Line loss
          line: On 3- and 5-mil LCP substrates, transmission-line loss rose about 20% at 75 °C and 50% or more at 125 °C, relative to 25 °C.
    - title: Handling and processing
      points:
        - label: Melt processing
          line: LCP melts well below its decomposition temperature, so it can be melt processed on conventional equipment.
  why: LCP is a melt-processed aromatic polyester chosen where high-frequency electrical behaviour and low moisture uptake matter. Its water absorption stays below 0.04 %, and its dielectric constant stays near 3.1 from RF up to 110 GHz. Commercial grades melt in a range of 280 to 350 °C, and the distributor rates the rod for upper working temperatures of 200 to 220 °C.
  uses:
    - where: Radio-frequency circuits
      line: Georgia Tech papers use LCP as a flexible RF substrate. One reports a dielectric constant of 3.1 that is nearly flat from RF to 110 GHz, with a loss tangent of 0.002 rising to 0.0045 at 110 GHz.
    - where: Automotive radar
      line: The IEEE Technology Navigator lists 77 GHz and 79 GHz as application frequencies for LCP circuits in automotive radar.
    - where: Space flight test
      line: Zenite, an LCP, was flown on the outside of the ISS in the MISSE-FF experiment from July 2022. The paper reports flight results for other materials, not for Zenite.
  can_do:
    - label: Stable dielectric
      benchmark: dielectric_constant
      value: '3.1'
      line: The dielectric constant stays nearly flat across the RF range up to 110 GHz, as the paper states.
    - label: Heat tolerance
      benchmark: heat_deflection_temperature
      value: 220 °C
      line: The distributor prints a heat deflection temperature of 220 °C at 0.45 MPa and 180 °C at 1.8 MPa for the Vectra A950 rod.
    - label: Low moisture uptake
      benchmark: moisture_absorption
      value: 0.03 %
      line: Equilibrium water absorption is 0.03 % and the 24-hour value is 0.02 %, both as printed for the Vectra A950 rod.
    - label: Melting range
      benchmark: melting_point
      value: 280 to 350 °C
      line: Commercial LCP grades melt in a class range of 280 to 350 °C, according to the IEEE overview. This range is not one grade's value.
  compare: LCP is a high-performance thermoplastic. The IEEE Technology Navigator contrasts it with polyimide, which can absorb up to 3 % of its weight in water and so shifts its high-frequency behaviour. LCP stays under 0.02 % in typical grades and keeps a stable dielectric constant. The comparison table below sets LCP against the same benchmarks used for the other polymers.
  compare_rows:
    - label: Heat deflection temperature at 0.45 MPa
      benchmark: heat_deflection_temperature
    - label: Water absorption at equilibrium
      benchmark: moisture_absorption
    - label: Dielectric constant
      benchmark: dielectric_constant
  handling:
    - No safety data sheet was found for an LCP grade, so check the supplier's safety data sheet before handling.
    - Keep the process below the decomposition temperature. Thermotropic LCPs are melt processed on conventional equipment.
    - Design RF lines for extra loss at high temperature. Loss rose about 20% at 75 °C on the tested substrates.
  good_for:
    - Stable high-frequency behaviour. The dielectric constant stays near 3.1 from RF to 110 GHz.
    - Low moisture uptake. Equilibrium water absorption is 0.03 % on the distributor's rod.
  watch_out:
    - Loss rises with temperature, about 20% more at 75 °C and 50% or more at 125 °C on the tested substrates.
    - Space performance is unproven in the sources read. Zenite flew on MISSE-FF, but no LCP erosion or outgassing result was found.
    - The rod grade has a low elongation at break of 3 % as printed, so it is not a flexible material in bulk form.
  verdict: LCP is the stable choice for low-loss, low-moisture RF substrates that stay within about 75 °C. Its space performance and grade-by-grade data remain open.