Properties of standard coaxial type cables have been very much standardized for many years. Unless you buy rogue stock from a supplier, if you abide by the manufacturer's application guidelines, there should not be any surprises. Do not make a bend of smaller recommended radius, do not expose the cable to excesstemperatures, vibration, mechanical stress, or chemicals. Be absolutely certain to attach the coaxial cable into a properly designed connector, printed circuit board, or other type termination, paying careful attention to insulation and dielectric strip lengths, solder temperatures and dwell times, and shielding preparation. Do all that, and you will be assured a long lifetime from your cable system.
| Properties of Coaxial Cable Dielectrics
(c = speed of light in a vacuum) | ||
| Dielectric Type | Time Delay (ns/ft) | Propagation Velocity |
|---|---|---|
| Solid Polyethylene (PE) | 1.54 | 0.659c |
| Foam Polyethylene (FE) | 1.27 | 0.800c |
| Foam Polystyrene (FS) | 1.12 | 0.910c |
| Air Space Polyethylene (ASP) | 1.15-1.21 | 0.840c-0.880c |
| Solid Teflon (ST) | 1.46 | 0.694c |
| Air Space Teflon (AST) | 1.13-1.20 | 0.850c-0.900c |