Low-Cost 9.4 GHz Microstrip Patch Antenna Design with PLA and Copper Tape

The paper presents a low-cost rectangular microstrip patch antenna with a center frequency of 9.4 GHz, using copper tape as the conductive element and polylactic acid (PLA) as the dielectric substrate. This design is intended to create a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and easily fabricable antenna for radar and communication systems. PLA dielectric substrates are 1.5 mm thick and have a relative permittivity of 2.75 and a loss tangent of 0.017. Antenna simulations in CST Microwave Studio showed an S11 of - ${1 7} \mathrm{d B}$, bandwidth of 503 MHz, and gain of 7.11 dBi. It is demonstrated that the antenna operates effectively at the desired frequency, making it suitable for use in radar and wireless communication systems. This study demonstrates that copper tape and PLA, a biodegradable material, can be used to create inexpensive, readily manufactured microstrip patch antennas.