Impermeability of Coaxial Connectors

09.14.2023 | Coaxial connectors play a crucial role in ensuring reliable signal transmission in various electronic applications. To maintain their functionality and performance, it is essential to address the issue of impermeability, especially in outdoor applications.

Impermeability refers to the ability of coaxial connectors to prevent the ingress of moisture, dust, and other contaminants, which can degrade signal quality and compromise the overall system integrity.

When discussing protection against ingress, it is necessary to differentiate between barrier sealing, mating face sealing and panel sealing.

Barrier Sealing

This sealing prevents the passage of foreign matters, gases or moisture between the insulators, the inner and outer conductors, and the connector body. For example, if a sealing ring is placed between center conductor and insulator and another sealing ring is placed around the insulator and the outer conductor/connector body, inside the mating face, no moisture will find the way into the connector’s interior and the attached cable, even when the mating face is open.

It involves the implementation of a physical barrier between the inner and outer conductors of the connector to prevent any leakage or ingress of external elements. This barrier typically consists of insulating materials, such as rubber or plastic gaskets, which are placed between the conductive components and the insulator/dielectric. The primary purpose of barrier sealing is to create a tight seal that prevents moisture, dust, or other contaminants from penetrating the connector and compromising signal quality. By effectively sealing the barrier, the coaxial connector can maintain its performance even in harsh environmental conditions.

Complete Sealing of a Connector System

This describes the prevention of foreign matters, gas or moisture ingress at any given point over the whole length of a mated connector system (consists of plug, jack, cable).

Panel Sealing

This describes the prevention of foreign matters, gas or moisture ingress through a gap between the connector body and the panel mounting hole.

Panel sealing refers to the sealing mechanism employed in coaxial connectors to prevent any leakage or ingress of contaminants through the connection point between the connector and the panel or housing. This is achieved by the use of various sealing techniques, such as gaskets, O-rings, or even specialized sealing compounds. The panel sealing mechanism ensures that the mounting hole where the coaxial connector enters a device or housing remains protected from external elements, such as moisture, dust, or even immersion in liquids, which could otherwise compromise its performance.

Author
Tobias Heller
Productmanager Coax

Mating Face Sealing

The sealing describes the prevention of foreign matters, gas or moisture ingress into the interface of two mated connectors.

This sealing mechanism focuses on creating a tight seal between the mating faces of two connected coaxial connectors. The mating face refers to the interface where the inner and outer conductors of the connectors make contact. To achieve an impermeable mating face seal, connectors often incorporate features like rubber gaskets or O-rings. These components are compressed when the connectors are joined, creating a reliable seal that prevents moisture or contaminants from entering the connection.