What are the factors that cause phase stable cable attenuation？

The rapid development of mobile communications has increased the demand for RF phase stable cables. The analysis of the attenuation factors of phase stable cables is therefore of great importance for our scientific applications. The attenuation of a cable indicates the degree of power or voltage loss transmitted when the cable is operating in the traveling wave state. What are the factors that lead to the attenuation of phase stable cables?

                                        
Attenuation factors of phase stable cable
The attenuation of phase stable cables has a great deal to do with the conductor, the medium, the size of the structure, the level of workmanship and the frequency of operation.

Firstly, the attenuation constant below 50MHz is large or exceedingly poor, while the high frequency has a margin, often due to the conductor conductivity being too low or the aluminium base in the aluminium-plastic composite tape being too thin, at a relatively low frequency, the thickness of the aluminium base is less than or comparable to the transmission depth of the frequency, resulting in an excessive alphaR.

Second, the choice of PE in the use of frequency within the tanδ larger, such as up to x × 10-3 level, it will cause the insulation structure of the tanδ increased, so that the phase stable cable attenuation increased. So the manufacturer reminds us to pay attention to the following 2 issues.
1, tanδ should be small (such as at 400MHz the tanδ is 2~4×10-4, the smaller the better), the
2, process performance (such as melt index of 0.5 ~ 10) should be suitable for the extrusion of insulation, different melt index has different temperatures.

Third, the outer conductor weave generally 60%-80% is appropriate, the large effect on reducing attenuation is not very obvious.

Four, insulation production with die design and processing is also key, should ensure that the product to achieve a more ideal uniform structure, so that the equivalent die point constant to meet the design requirements.

Fifth, the physical foam PE its attenuation at low frequencies is qualified, while the high frequency is super poor, mostly with the dielectric loss angle tangent and equivalent dielectric point constant is large, or with the outer conductor weave density is too small, the inner conductor outer diameter is small.

ZOMWAVE was established in 2014, specializing in the research and development, production and sales of RF phase stable cable, microwave, rf connector, microwave components and other products, mainly used in communications, security monitoring, automotive, medical, radar, aviation, military and other fields, we are a data signal transmission solution provider.

Reminder: the attenuation constant of phase stable cable also depends on the degree of foaming. An appropriate increase in the degree of foaming within the permissible range of impedance and return will help to increase the attenuation constant of the cable and will also reduce the cost.

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