Nick wrote:
I am experimenting with some aerial designs and wondered if anyone
had used / knows whether
hot melt glue is good to seal and waterproof connections and its
electrical characteristics ?

Ordinary semi-translucent HMG is excellent for electrical sealing, both
indoors and outdoors, and has very good insulating and RF properties.

(I will just go and stick some in the microwave with a glass of
water and see if it melts ! )

HMG is chemically very similar to polyethylene, so it has very low
losses at 2.45GHz and all lower frequencies. That means you can use it
in almost any RF application where moulded polyethylene would be OK.

The only significant differences are mechanical. HMG is softer and more
flexible, and has a lower softening temperature, but those properties
also make it a better adhesive and sealant.


--

73 from Ian GM3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek

"Ian White GM3SEK" wrote in message
...
Nick wrote:
I am experimenting with some aerial designs and wondered if
anyone
had used / knows whether
hot melt glue is good to seal and waterproof connections and its
electrical characteristics ?

Ordinary semi-translucent HMG is excellent for electrical
sealing, both indoors and outdoors, and has very good insulating
and RF properties.

(I will just go and stick some in the microwave with a glass of
water and see if it melts ! )

HMG is chemically very similar to polyethylene, so it has very
low losses at 2.45GHz and all lower frequencies. That means you
can use it in almost any RF application where moulded
polyethylene would be OK.

The only significant differences are mechanical. HMG is softer
and more flexible, and has a lower softening temperature, but
those properties also make it a better adhesive and sealant.


--

73 from Ian GM3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom
(RSGB)
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek

Hi Ian,

Thanks for that input - I did put some in the microwave and it was
fine as you said, and I have wrapped / smeared
some around some 14 gauge Cu wire and bent it around and it adheres
remarkably well ! Any idea how it suffers UV ?

It only really needs to last a year or so as by then I am re-doing
aerials and things...

Thanks again,

Nick

"Nick" schrieb im Newsbeitrag ...
| Thanks for that input - I did put some in the microwave and it was
| fine as you said, and I have wrapped / smeared
| some around some 14 gauge Cu wire and bent it around and it adheres
| remarkably well ! Any idea how it suffers UV ?
|
| It only really needs to last a year or so as by then I am re-doing
| aerials and things...

All plastics suffer from UV if they do not mixed with chemical stabilizers. Often that is ordinary carbon.
For a year lasting that should be of no problem.
Be aware, that the material will considerable soften above 80°C celsius.

I use it often. Cheap and of good value for money.

regards -
Henry

Nick wrote:

Thanks for that input - I did put some in the microwave and it was fine
as you said, and I have wrapped / smeared some around some 14 gauge Cu
wire and bent it around and it adheres remarkably well ! Any idea how
it suffers UV ?

Not bad at all - much better than epoxy, for example. It turns slightly
more opaque, but doesn't crack or peel.

It only really needs to last a year or so as by then I am re-doing
aerials and things...

You don't say where you are in the world, but in these latitudes ( low
and mid-50s) I've used it for several years without problems. For a year
or two, I'd guess it would be fine almost anywhere.


--

73 from Ian GM3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek

"Ian White GM3SEK" wrote in message
...
Nick wrote:

Thanks for that input - I did put some in the microwave and it
was fine as you said, and I have wrapped / smeared some around
some 14 gauge Cu wire and bent it around and it adheres
remarkably well ! Any idea how it suffers UV ?

Not bad at all - much better than epoxy, for example. It turns
slightly more opaque, but doesn't crack or peel.

It only really needs to last a year or so as by then I am
re-doing aerials and things...

You don't say where you are in the world, but in these latitudes
( low and mid-50s) I've used it for several years without
problems. For a year or two, I'd guess it would be fine almost
anywhere.

Southern UK - Hampshire, and much of the time it is locked up in
the garage in the dark - so maybe a century ???

The other product I have found to work extremely well is Evo-Stick
impact adhesive... it seems to tolerate sun forever and is still a
little flexible
after years too - but as more fluid only really any good for thin
films / coatings...

Thanks,

Nick