[Antennas] Painting of Antenna Radomes

Mon, 26 May 2003 14:02:14 -0400

I would be careful of what paint is used as some may be good absorbers
at microwaves - you may wind up with something waterproof - and no
signal!  No, I have no data to back up what will/won't work.  Also, I am
not sure, but this may hv been discussed some time back; perhaps an
archive search is in order.  Perhaps check the microwave archives too.

73,  Tom - WA2BPE

"Barry L. Ornitz" wrote:

> Jim Simmons, KF4TUN, asked:
>
> > Why not just using latex boat paint? The kind the use on
> > sailboats. They stand up under horrible conditions.
>
> This is a good question.  The new high-gloss latex enamels are
> actually quite different from the latex paints of years ago.
> They use an acrylic chemistry that produces a far more durable
> paint, yet can still be applied as a water-based emulsion.
>
> They do hold up well, and most of the adhesion problems have
> been solved.  However, these paints are still a little porous
> letting some moisture through.  On old, weathered fiberglass,
> I think I would still use an epoxy or urethane paint to keep
> the moisture out.  But if you wish to paint a metal antenna to
> hide it, or protect it from a nasty environment (like salt
> spray near the ocean, or acid rain, etc.) the new acrylic
> latex paints should work fine.
>
> Watch out about paints sold by boating dealers.  The paint is
> often no different from quality paint sold for homes, but
> because of the "boat" in the name you usually pay more.
>
> [Private airplane owners are probably more familiar with this
> issue.  An ordinary oil filter that you buy for a few bucks at
> the local auto parts store suddenly costs 10X as much as soon
> as an FAA number is applied and sold in an aviation parts
> place!]
>
>         73,  Barry     WA4VZQ     [email protected]
>
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