[TowerTalk] Antenna Grease--Deficiencies and Remedies.

[K7LXC@aol.com]

In a message dated 06/24/2000 9:35:06 AM Pacific Daylight Time, K7GCO@aol.com 
writes:

> Penatrox gets hard and has the wrong particles in it for what ever value 
they 
>  might have.  

      Any antioxidant like Penetrox is supposed to be sparingly and not 
glopped onto a joint. I don't have any longterm experience that shows that it 
dries out making the joint hard to take apart. It might but I don't have any 
direct experience. 

     Yes, Penetrox is a commercial product manufactured by Burndy Electrical 
who makes a lot of commercial electrical supplies.

     It really doesn't matter what the particles are. They are held in 
suspension in a neutral vehicle material so they don't come into contact with 
oxygen or water. Oxidation relates to a a single material that deteriorates 
in the presence of oxygen; i.e. iron oxide, aluminum oxide, etc. If there is 
no oxygen present, there is no oxidation.

     When you have two dissimilar metals in contact, you have to have an 
electolyte for the chemical process to take place. Typically it's a salt or 
other compound (like zinc) dissolved in water that makes the solution 
conductive. In the absence of an electolyte, you don't have dissimilar metal 
corrosion. 

> Penatrox was designed for twisted copper wires in the open where 
>  the area of conduction is full length carrying 60 cycles. 

     I think a conductor is a conductor and an electrical connection is an 
electrical connection. Other manufacturers of commercial electrical products 
like Thomas & Betts, GB Electrical and Ideal Industries have antioxidants of 
their own recipe. They all function the same.

>  The Particles help there but why weren't they particles of copper?

      Some use copper and some use zinc. As long as it's rated for the 
materials I'm using, copper or aluminum, I don't really care which one I use. 
I suspect over time that they all dry out. 

Cheers,   Steve   K7LXC

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