Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: RTP Company | Subject: RTP 100 Series
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 28 July 2004
Polypropylene compound is ideal antenna
housing
Antenna Plus needed a robust housing for its Millennium series of mobile antennas that was strong, impact-resistant and impervious to a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions.
To house the advanced electronics necessary for modern communications, Antenna Plus wanted a robust housing for its Millennium series of mobile antennas that was strong, impact-resistant and impervious to a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions Most importantly, the housing material had to allow the electromagnetic signal to reach the antenna with minimal loss of strength
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 26 Aug 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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Antenna Plus turned to specialty compounder RTP Company who formulated an RTP 100 Series reinforced polypropylene (PP) compound to meet the requirements.
A special UV stabiliser in the PP compound ensures long-term outdoor performance and allows Antenna Plus to meet the UL requirements expected by its customers.
A tailored combination of milled glass and glass beads adds both strength and dimensional stability.
According to Bill Liimatainen of Antenna Plus: "The material moulds extremely flat for PP, with no warp and an exact, consistent shrinkage".
"These characteristics allow us to use the same material in many of our products".
He continued: "We've tested other materials and have yet to see one with the consistency of the RTP Company compound".
"Consistency is critical to our success".
"It extends to both production and long-term performance, allowing for a smooth, efficient manufacturing process".
Antenna components made of materials with high dielectric constants or dissipation factors cause an increase in the signal loss factor - the amount of energy absorbed and converted to heat by the material.
Generally, conductive materials reflect signal waves; conversely, the low reflective properties of thermoplastics allow the signal to pass to the circuits unimpeded.
RTP Company has extensive experience formulating and compounding thermoplastic materials to specific dielectric constants ranging from 2.1 to 12.0.
This enables manufacturers to select materials that complement their antenna design, optimising signal strength available to devices.
According to Liimatainen: "Customisable dielectric properties means we can get a compound matched to the antenna".
"This eliminates our need to tweak each design for the most favourable signal penetration".
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