[TowerTalk] Black on Cu

Nick Pair daweezil2003 at yahoo.com
Mon Sep 4 01:16:39 EDT 2006


The black is copper oxide and a poor conductor. Most common form of copper degradation. Can form deep under insulation on coax and other insulated wire. Resists soldering very well.
  If the color on the Cu is a light to dark greenish blue you have copper sulphate. A common mineral in many places and a very good chemical to get rid of any mold, moss, or lichen on your roof. Also sometimes seem around Cu wire near your cars battery as battery vents when they get older and internal resistance rises. Not very common on antenna wired unless you live near a pulp mill that still uses the sulphite process once very common in northwest.
  Either of the products is depleting the copper in your wire. The oxide is generally removed with a dilute acid and the sulphate with a dilute base.
   
  FWIW   neither is detrimental to signal but both to antenna life.
   
  Nick
  WB7PEK

 		
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