Materials for 5G Infrastructure: Technology and IP Analysis
Growth Opportunities Driven by the Need for Low-loss, Cost-effective Materials in 5G Infrastructure
22-Jul-2021
Global
Technology Research
In the last three years, activities related to the rollout of 5G networks have increased. Stakeholders in the 5G industry are actively trying to build 5G infrastructures to ensure uninterrupted connectivity. However, stakeholders face challenges related to transmission losses in 5G electronic components, such as 5G antennas, filters, circulators, cables, and wirings. This has resulted in the need for high-performance materials with low-loss properties. Materials with low dielectric constant, dissipation factor, and moisture absorption are being investigated as they can potentially address the challenges related to transmission losses. In addition, materials with thermal stability needed to resist the circuit boards production conditions and thermal conductivity to distribute the heat generated during operations at high frequencies are also in demand.
Among 5G components, 5G antennas are considered as one of critical components driven by rise of consumer electronics and the changes in 5G infrastructure toward decentralization, which requires massive construction of base stations that contain large number of antennas.
Materials such as liquid crystal polymers, polyimides, fluoropolymers, or low temperature co-fired ceramics are currently used for 5G antennas. However, their limitations, such as high dielectric constant and high prices, are driving R&D efforts to develop new high-performing and cost-effective materials. Emerging material alternatives such as glass or polymeric resins, including polyphenylene ether and polyphenylene sulfide resins are being investigated for use in 5G networks due to their promising dielectric and thermal performance.
This research titled “Materials for 5G Infrastructure – Technology and IP Analysis” focuses on various emerging materials and assesses the advantages and limitations of each and its applicability in 5G infrastructure and components, specifically 5G antenna and substrate materials. The research also provides an analysis of materials and performance characteristics, properties, and technology-readiness levels.
The analysis contains a comprehensive overview of key stakeholders active in developing 5G antennas substrate materials and recent research and commercial developments.
Briefly, this research provides:
• 5G infrastructure overview
• Types of 5G components
• Types of materials used in 5G antennas
• R&D initiatives
• Patenting trends and insights
• Companies to action
• Growth opportunities for 5G material developers
1.1 Why Is It Increasingly Difficult to Grow?
1.2 The Strategic Imperative 8™
1.3 The Impact of the Top Three Strategic Imperatives on the Materials for 5G Infrastructure Technology
1.4 About The Growth Pipeline Engine™
1.5 Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine™
1.6 Research Methodology
2.1 Research Scope
2.2 Research Coverage and Key Questions the Study Will Answer
2.3 Key Findings
3.1 5G Aims to Deliver New Capabilities and Experiences Across the Wireless Network Industry
3.2 Applications that Rely on Stable and Reliable WiFi Connections Drive the Need for Fast 5G Enrollment
3.3 Full Rollout of 5G Network Requires Massive Implementation of 5G Infrastructure
3.4 5G Infrastructure Differs from 4G Infrastructure in New Network Architecture, New Chemistry, and Next-generation Backhaul
3.5 High Attenuation of mmWaves Significantly Impacts the Architecture of 5G Infrastructure
3.6 Adoption of Infrastructure Components to 5G Standards Relies on Utilization of Special Low-loss Materials
3.7 5G Networks will Require Fiber Optic Infrastructure to Connect RF Equipment
3.8 5G Antennas Expected to Drive R&D and Adoption of New Materials
4.1 Signal Loss, Thermal Management, and Production Efficacy are Key Challenges for 5G Antennas Materials
4.2 Materials that can be used for an Antenna’s Structure and Substrate are Expected to Become Highly Important
4.3 Materials, Such as LCPs, are Already in Use in 5G Antennas
4.4 Liquid Crystal Polymers Are Leading in Adoption as 5G Substrate Materials
4.5 Polyimides are Gaining Interest Due to Competitive Pricing and Good Thermal Performance
4.6 Fluoropolymers Exhibit Exceptional Dielectric and Mechanical Properties
4.7 Low-temperature Co-fired Ceramics Possess Excellent Mechanical and Thermal Properties and Non-toxicity that Can Facilitate Adoption
4.8 Glass is Being Increasingly Researched for Use in Developing Cost-effective 5G Antennas
4.9 Polyphenylene Ether Is Being Researched as an Alternative Material for Antenna Substrates
4.10 PPS Resins Have Attracted Market Attention Due to Their Excellent Dielectric Performance and Chemical Resistance
4.11 Various 5G Antenna Materials Offer Different Properties and Assets
4.12 Low-loss Materials with Excellent Business Viability Can Find Increasing Adoption Potential
4.13 Cost-effective Materials with Low-loss Properties Will Witness Increasing Adoption
5.1 Many Low-loss Materials are Provided Directly to the 5G Industry by Chemical Companies
5.2 Public and Private Funding Projects to Develop End-to-end 5G Solutions and Expand Production Capacity for 5G Substrate Materials
5.3 Research Institutes’ Contributions to the Innovation Ecosystem on the Rise
5.4 Partnerships are Prevalent for Product Portfolio Expansion
5.5 IP Analysis Showcases Increase in Patent Filing Activity During 2016 to 2020
5.6 IP Breakdown for Materials Type Shows that Glass, LTCC, and PI are Top Materials for 5G Substrates
6.1 DuPont Offers a Broad Portfolio of 5G-Suitable Materials for mmWave Bands Operations
6.2 Hitachi Chemicals has Developed a Printing Wiring Board Material Enabling Miniaturization of 5G Components
6.3 Resonant Offers Software for Designing RF Filters for the 5G Industry
6.4 Kaneka Corporation Develops a Modified Polyimide Heat-resistant Material for Antenna Substrate Applications
6.5 AGC Develops Transparent Glass Antennas for Small Cells
6.6 Solvay Delivers Fluoropolymers for High-frequency Applications that Offer Unparalleled Thermal Performance
6.7 Toray’s Technology can Control the Orientation of Molecular Chains in PPS Films
6.8 Jiaxing Glead Electronics Develops a New Resin Matrix with a Ceramic Filler
6.9 KOA Corporation Develops LTCC Substrate for mmWave Antennas
6.10 The Chemours Company Commercializes its Fluoropolymer Resin for 5G Cables and Antennas
7.1 Growth Opportunity 1: Improvement of Low-loss Properties in Existing 5G Materials
7.1 Growth Opportunity 1: Improvement of Low-loss Properties in Existing 5G Materials (Continued)
7.2 Growth Opportunity 2: AI for Developing Efficient, New Materials
7.2 Growth Opportunity 2: AI for Developing Efficient, New Materials (Continued)
7.3 Growth Opportunity 3: Collaborations to Develop End-to-End 5G Solutions
7.3 Growth Opportunity 3: Collaborations to Develop End-to-End 5G Solutions (Continued)
8.1 Criteria Evaluation–Background Data
8.2 Technology Readiness Levels (TRL): Explanation
9.1 Your Next Steps
9.2 Why Frost, Why Now?
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Deliverable Type | Technology Research |
---|---|
No Index | No |
Podcast | No |
Author | Marta Piotrowska |
Industries | Chemicals and Materials |
WIP Number | D9F4-01-00-00-00 |
Is Prebook | No |