Aluminum conductor of low audible noise transmission

• US 4,759,805 A
• Filed: 12/16/1986
• Issued: 07/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujikura Rubber Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujikura Rubber Limited
• Inventors: Saito, Takeshi, Inoue, Tadashi, Okazato, Akira, Hita, Takanori, Saruwatari, Kohichi, Kounosu, Kozo, Maejima, Masatsugu
• Primary Examiner(s): NIMMO, MORRIS
• Application Number:
  US06/942,065
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 174/127, 174/128 R, 174/129 R, 174/130, 174/119 R, 174/119 C, 57/217, 57/221, 57/223, 148/6.27, 427/118, 427/120, 51/319, 51/320
• US Class Current: 148/275
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 8/16 using oxygen-containing compounds, e.g. water, carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing conductors or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 5/004 for protection against corona

Abstract

The surface of an aluminum conductor is roughened, for example, by blasting. A hydrophilic film such as a boehmite film, an anodic oxide film and a chemical conversion film is formed on the roughened surface. A protective film made of a wetting agent or a hydrophilic resin is formed on the hydrophilic film. The conductor may comprise a compressed aluminum conductor.

Claims

1. A process for treating the surface of a transmission line aluminum conductor in order to reduce generation of audible noise in said conductor due to corona discharge, said process comprising the steps of:

blasting the surface of an aluminum conductor to roughen it to a roughness layer having a thickness of about 3 to 300 microns;

forming a non-porous boehmite film by steam treatment on the roughened surface at temperatures within the range between 100° and

120°

C. for a period of time between 0.5 and 20 minutes to impart a hydrophilic nature to said surface such that the conductor wets uniformly upon receipt of water, said film being not thicker than 2 microns; and

forming a second film on said boehmite film by applying a wetting agent on said boehmite film.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein said wetting agent is selected from the group consisting of alkylsulfate, alkylbenzene sulfonate, polyoxy ethylene alkyl ether and polyoxy ethylene alkyl phenol ether wetting agents.