The U.S. Navy and its allies are under attack. The enemy is insidious and globally-based. Yet you’ve probably never heard about it on the nightly news: We’re talking about salt-spray corrosion.
Ships and aircraft are damaged by it every day, and it makes up a large component of life-cycle costs for weapon systems. One government-sponsored study estimated the cost to military systems and infrastructure at over $20 billion annually.
But a leading manufacturer of precision interconnect solutions is tackling the issue head on. Radiall’s HEP2R is an innovative plating solution for long-term protection of outdoor RF coaxial connectors in high-corrosion environments. According to Alan Mond, president of distribution firm East Coast Microwave, accelerated testing has proven the treatment to be effective for as much as 27 years. Benefits include:
- Very low intermodulation (-135 dBm on 4.3-10 connector)
- No change to voltage standing wave radio (VSWR), compared to similar product plated with BBR (Bright Bronze Radiall)
- High-corrosion resistance (ASTM B 117/ISO 21207 Method B 5 Cycles)
- Similar galvanic cell level, compared to BBR plating
- High hardness
- Anti-seize properties
- Not subject to whiskers
- Non-magnetic plating
- Good solderability
- Hypoallergenic plating
- RoHs and REACH compliant
- Free of cyanides
- Available in N, 7/16, 4.3-10, 4.1-9.5, NEX10 series
Moreover, HEP2R applications are not limited to the military. It can also be used on cell towers, equipment used for offshore drilling, passenger boating and more.
“Anything exposed to the ocean,” said Mond, as he showed an example of a plated coaxial cable at the International Microwave Symposium (IMS2018). The show runs June 10-15, 2018, in Philadelphia.
Telecommunication equipment subject to corrosive gases from industrial or traffic environments due to installation in high-humidity, high-temperature conditions is also an excellent candidate.
More information on the product is available from Radiall. For pricing and ordering information, visit the Radiall product portion of the East Coast Microwave site.
