Posted to News on 10th Mar 2007, 00:00
Making antenna building easier
Durafix Easyweld aluminium welding rods are providing antenna specialist RF Solutions with a convenient, dependable and cost-effective answer to a perennial problem: how to make electrically and mechanically sound joints between aluminium, copper, and copper-based alloys.
Aluminium combines lightness with excellent electrical conductivity and is, therefore, used extensively in the innovative lightweight antenna systems designed and manufactured by RF Solutions. Making joints between aluminium and other non-ferrous metals, especially copper and copper alloys has, however, always presented a challenge for the company. In the past, the most effective method was to plate the aluminium with nickel, then to make the joint to the copper with a tin-based solder. Unfortunately, nickel plating of aluminium is difficult and expensive, which makes this approach unattractive especially for prototypes and small-volume customised products.
In searching for a better approach, RF Solutions encountered Easyweld aluminium welding rods from Durafix Limited. Designed to produce strong welded joints between almost any combination of non-ferrous metals and alloys, including aluminium, these rods have a low working temperature of just 392degC, which means that they can be used with an ordinary hand-held blowtorch.
