ARACON® Fiber

ARACON^® Fiber Product: Fiber

What if you could find fibers that were stronger than steel, more flexible than copper and have the electrical conductivity of silver? Well, now you can.

Micro-Coax presents ARACON^® brand metal clad fibers. ARACON^® combines the conductivity of an outer metal coating with the strength, light weight, and flexibility of aramid fibers. ARACON^® fibers are based on the same technology that created DuPont™ KEVLAR^®, well known for its use in bullet resistant vests, high speed boats, and military helmets.

Since ARACON^® fibers are built on a modified KEVLAR^® base, the yarns have very high strength as well as good thermal and dimensional stability. Exceptional strength and textile-like handling also can permit faster braiding speed vs. metal wire products.

As with other materials, shielding effectiveness with ARACON^® fibers is dependent on details of cable design. When braided or woven, the natural tendency for the fine, lightweight fibers is to spread out for high coverage, typically greater than 95%. This translates into superior shielding effectiveness vs. copper wire, and the potential for significant weight savings. Also, the outstanding strength and processibility of ARACON^® yarns uniquely permits them to be braided directly with metal wire products as well.

ARACON^® is available in various classes of shielding grade and coating: nickel plated, nickel clad and silver clad. All types of ARACON^® fibers provide a versatile combination of physical and electrical properties for a variety of demanding applications. Custom put-ups are also available upon request.

These ARACON^® types represent new classes of conductive yarn intended for braided EMI shielding in cables and harnesses, especially where weight savings is important. The textile-like qualities and flexibility of ARACON^® fibers are unique in conductive products, making high coverage easy to obtain without the stiffness or loss of push-back capability inherent to metal wire overbraiding.

The silver clad classes have the following general features:

• Silver-clad for maximum conductivity and solderability
• Weighs 60% less than copper wire at equal volume.
• Construction equivalent to 89 bunched stranded ends of 54 AWG wire.
• Can be braided on same equipment used for metal wire.
• Can be soldered or crimped.
• Available on 3,000 ft. Wardwell spools or 2,000 ft. Butt braider bobbins

The nickel clad classes have the following general features:

• Nickel-clad for maximum thermal stability
• Weighs 60% less than copper wire at equal volume.
• Construction equivalent to 178 bunched stranded ends of 54 AWG wire.
• Can be braided on same equipment used for metal wire.
• Can be soldered or crimped.
• Available on 3,000 ft. Wardwell spools or 2,000 ft. Butt braider bobbins

Micro-Coax also offers an enhanced nickel clad class for maximum stability from salt fog and thermal exposure. This nickel clad class has the following general features:

• Nickel-clad for maximum stability to salt fog and thermal exposure
• Weighs 55% less than copper wire at equal volume.
• Construction equivalent to 178 bunched stranded ends of 53 AWG wire.
• Can be braided on same equipment used for metal wire.
• Can be soldered or crimped.
• Available on 3,000 ft. Wardwell spools or 2,000 ft. Butt braider bobbins

ARACON^® fiber, available only from Micro-Coax, builds on a 50 year legacy of microwave cable manufacturing including the plating of metal tubing for semi-rigid cable and space grade gold plating of components for connectors. Please contact us for more information on ARACON^® fiber or request a quote for a specific application.

ARACON^® is a registered trademark of Micro-Coax, Inc.
KEVLAR^® is a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company