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Re: [Amps] Mica cap substitute \ alternative

To: "Ian White GM3SEK" <gm3sek@ifwtech.co.uk>
Subject: Re: [Amps] Mica cap substitute \ alternative
From: "m.ford" <k1ern@pioneerwireless.net>
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 18:31:15 -0400
List-post: <mailto:amps@contesting.com>
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ian White GM3SEK" <gm3sek@ifwtech.co.uk>
To: <amps@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 5:57 PM
Subject: Re: [Amps] Mica cap substitute \ alternative


> Harold  Mandel wrote:
>>Steatite, (porcelain); Corning Glass, PTFE....
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: amps-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com] 
>>On
>>Behalf Of Gary Smith
>>Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 5:18 PM
>>To: R L Measures; g3rzp@g3rzp.wanadoo.co.uk
>>Cc: Amps Amps
>>Subject: Re: [Amps] Mica cap substitute \ alternative
>>
>>At the risk of straying OT, what is a good insulator at 50 MHz or >?
> 
> That is too simple a question, because the answer depends on the 
> application as well as the frequency.
> 
> In locations where the RF+DC voltage gradient or the RF current density 
> are high, you need a better insulating material than you would for less 
> demanding applications. For example, the anode coupling capacitor at the 
> hot end of an RF choke is a very different application from the RF 
> bypass capacitor at the cold end. The first one has to handle a high DC 
> voltage and also a large RF current; the second one has the same DC 
> voltage but a much lower RF current.
> 
> The answer also depends on the operating temperature. Many traditional 
> porcelain materials are not particularly low-loss, but it generally 
> isn't a problem if they get hot. However, temperature *is* a problem if 
> those materials are used in capacitors that form part of a tuned tank 
> circuit, because the capacitance may vary as the material heats up.
> 
> Also, compare PTFE with other plastics such as polystyrene and 
> polyethylene. They all have very low RF losses, but only PTFE can 
> operate at high temperatures without melting.
> 


> That is a very sketchy outline of some of the factors involved, but I 
> hope it shows that simply asking "What is a good insulator?" won't 
> provide all the answers you need.
> 

A solicitor would have framed the question "What is a bad insulator?"  Hi.


> 
> 
> -- 
> 73 from Ian GM3SEK         'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)

Take a look at Volume 74  No 5  May 1998  page 10.
The photo at the top.

> http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek
> 
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> 
> 
Mike k1ern


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