Can you use silver epoxy for very high frequencies, like 20GHz? I was looking to join the center pin of a waveguide antenna SMA adapter to a IC (GaN power amplifier). It seems to be used in RF applications, according to microwave 101, but is it appropriate for direct signal path use? At power levels of >10 watts
I ask this because it is relevant to my other thread,
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/gan-amplifiers-home-implementation/ , but I feel that it deserves its own topic, because it is relevant to RF repair and possibly RF manufacturing.
I have used it before to fix a isolator (only for 1-2 GHz), which had a very unrepairable bent SMA thread. I got a new SMA to waveguide adapter thingy, but getting the center pin to solder in the waveguide was very difficult, it would require a long thin soldering iron and four hands. I'm not sure how they put it together actually, the time constants of the thermal masses appropriate for soldering inside of that thing are tiny... you would need some kind of laser to melt the solder and a mechanical jig to clamp them together... or be a ninja. I have yet to test this repair as it is still curing... but anyway lacking a good VNA or test subject.
I have this product:
http://www.mgchemicals.com/products/adhesives/electrically-conductive-adhesives/silver-conductive-epoxy-slow-cure-high-conductivity-8331sI considered using hot air, but I noticed if you heat those coaxial connectors too much the dielectric tends to get distorted. Other options also include some kind of special hot air pencil (perhaps heating a needle passing air with a gas torch) and low temperature solder paste...