NEC-LIST: Oxidation on copper

We build our high power antenna matching systems and the like using bare
copper coils and conductors. Often these systems are not well protected
environmentally and experience long term weathering and surface losses have
not been a problem. Of course, mechanical contacts are an issue, and for
that, we usually provide silver plating of the contact surfaces. Silver
oxide is quite a good conductor and fends off problems should oxidation
intrude into a joint. And, yes, we have heard of interference problems where
copper oxide/copper oxide contacts happen. This used to be a big problem
when the power companies were using copper instead of aluminum overhead.
There are other problems with aluminum, but we and other high power antenna
manufacturers use aluminum very successfuly for conductors, and the aluminum
oxide film does not seem to create any noticable losses.
Lawrence Behr
LBA Group, Inc.
3400 Tupper Drive
Greenville, NC 27834

252.757.0279 office
252.752.9155 fax

http://www.lbagroup.com

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