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74 SMT007 MAGAZINE I JUNE 2026 P OW E R I N G T H E F U T U R E I n RF and microwave design, deciding on which materials to use determines whether your design merely works or truly performs. Yet, designers too often fall back on material selec- tion that is familiar, available, or "good enough." However, once you move into higher frequencies, higher power densities, and tighter performance tolerances, "good enough" becomes the very thing that holds your design back. That's where ceramic substrates become a fundamentally differ- ent approach to solving RF challenges. For EMS providers, these material shifts directly impact assembly processes, thermal management strate- gies, and long-term reliability outcomes. BY B R I A N B U Y E A , R E M T EC I N C. When Material Choice Defines RF Performance