Re: Structrual support, was: oil dielectric

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Xyme3-at-aol-dot-com>

In a message dated 05/24/2002 7:37:46 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:


>
> Paul,
>
> Absolutely! And a glazed surface would be preferable to reduce
> absorption of potentially conductive material. Ceramic has been used for
> high power RF coil forms for almost 100 years. The downside to using
> ceramic is that it's significantly heavier and more brittle than PVC. 
>
> Best regards,
>
> -- Bert --
> -- 



  Bert,
   
You are correct about the ceramics being much heavier and more brittle. I asked
questions about useing 300 series  (non-magnetic) stainless in another
post.This would allow for a thinner coating of ceramic. Reply posts indicate
metals would absorbe energy in the form of heat causeing losses in the coil, as
well as expansion and contraction in the steel tube. I would not see any
problem with useing pvc coated with ceramic in place of the stainless, except
that the glazeing process would melt the pvc. Just how hot would a piece of
iron become inside a ceramic tube? 
  Envision for a moment, two stainless or titanimum tubes, separated by a
ceramic spacer for the central body of the coil. Would stainless steel heat
less?  Although stainless and  titanimum might heat inside a Tesla coil, if
thinner pieces were used, would they heat less, or simply radiate heat faster?
Paul
PS I have to ask, how much are your shrunken heads? (Quarters)