Network cable manufacturer share: The Materials of Ethernet Cable

Views: 8     Author: Site Editor     Publish Time: 2022-06-27      Origin: Site

Do you know what materials are used to make Ethernet Cable? The professional network cable manufacturer will introduce you to the material of ethernet cable through this article.

Sheathing Materials

The material used for the sheathing of Ethernet cables can be either flame-retardant or non-flame-retardant. As a recommendation, it is preferable to choose an Ethernet cable equipped with a flame-retardant sheath material.

Please note that several flame retardant materials, types, and grades are available for Ethernet cables. Some of these are CM, CMR, CMP, and LSZH, to name a few. CM, CMR, and CMP are the most common types named by the National Electrical Code (NEC).

The following is a brief discussion of each term.

Communications Multipurpose (CM) – Generally, this is the lowest sheathing class installed in residential type or single-story commercial building walls.

Communications Multipurpose Cable, Riser (CMR) – This is the rating of the cable used to prevent fire from spreading between floors through a riser or vertical shaft. This is a higher rating than CM and, therefore, it’s more expensive.

Communications Multi-Purpose Cable, Flame Retardant (CMP) – This rating is known as “premium” cable. It is designed to prevent the spread of fire to a distance of no more than five feet and does not produce smoke during a fire. As the name implies, CMP-rated cables can be installed in ventilated rooms with air circulation, so the cables should not emit toxic fumes during a fire. In addition, they are designed to burn efficiently and be self-extinguishing.

Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) – These cables are manufactured with halogen-free sheathing materials. LSZH cables are slightly inferior to Plenum types.

Fiber Optic Non-Conductive Riser (OFNR) and Fiber Optic Non-Conductive Pressurized Chamber – These consist of a sheath for the riser cavity and a sheath for the pressurized chamber cavity, respectively. OFNR and OFNP have better flame retardancy than CMR and CMP Ethernet cables made of copper. They have higher quality because they are fiber optic cables made of non-conductive materials.

To maximize the performance of your cable, it is essential to ensure that you select the correct cable for your specific application and installation and that it meets the standards.

In general, choosing CMP is the best recommendation because it can be used as an all-in-one cabling solution. This provides a safer connection and reduces the risk of toxic fumes. However, CMR cable is a good choice if your cable will not run through ducts or ventilation systems. For home applications, CMR cable is already suitable as most homeowners can install it without running it through the ducts.

Connector Materials

The end of the cable, the connector, is also made of various materials that may affect the quality of the cable. Materials such as silver, gold, copper, aluminum, nickel, and iron are most commonly used for connectors.

Electrical Conductivity

Electrical conductivity is one of the main factors to consider as the best material. Of all the materials mentioned, silver has the highest conductivity, followed by gold and copper, followed by aluminum, then nickel, and finally iron.

Resistance

Oxidation resistance is another thing to consider. Given that connectors are the exposed part of the cable, they should be able to resist oxidation to ensure reliability and extend service life. Silver and aluminum are very susceptible to oxidation from the materials given.

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Therefore, gold is the best choice for connectors with resistance to degradation. A longer cable life span equates to more savings on replacement costs and less maintenance and repair time.

In addition, the thickness of the gold plating is a factor in the cable’s durability. Thickness, measured in microns, plays a vital role in the life of a connector. Thin plating (i.e., low micron plating) is not optimal and will wear out immediately. Typically, the thicker the plating, the better. In the industry, the thickest gold plating is 50 microns. This would be the optimum thickness of gold plating to provide a reliable, stable, and fast connection.