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Re: [TowerTalk] Fwd: (80 Meter yagi question) Cu <=> Ag

To: Bob K6UJ <k6uj@pacbell.net>, "towertalk@contesting.com" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Fwd: (80 Meter yagi question) Cu <=> Ag
From: "Richard (Rick) Karlquist" <richard@karlquist.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2017 17:28:56 -0700
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
On 10/12/2017 5:06 PM, Bob K6UJ wrote:
Since rf flows on the skin of the tube, I don't understand why silver plated 
copper
wouldn't be better than just copper.But what do I know, hihi
BobK6UJ

A few issues here:

1. The DC conductivity of ideal silver is only 5% better than ideal OFHC copper. At RF, the conductivity would be only 2.5% better. That's
the best you could do in an ideal world.

2.  On 80 meters, the thickness of typical silver plating is no where
near several skin depths, so it doesn't help even a few percent,
on account of that.

3. Copper oxide is supposedly lossy. Plating with silver gets rid of that problem and replaces it with silver "tarnish". This may be less
lossy.  YMMV.  Aluminum has no issue whatsoever with losses due to
the oxide layer.  It is way cheaper and lighter weight.

Rick N6RK
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