Antenna Developpments using Polymers and Metallized Foam

This paper presents some developments of antennas for several applications needing either size reduction , limited weight , good efficiency, or using new materials. To meet constraints of size, weight, efficiency, it is important to do proper choices in design and technology. Using standard laminates (FR4, PTFE...) various shapes have been developed either to simplify the feeding or for size reduction and multiple frequency resonances. The technology has been also considered: an original metallization process of foam has been developed in order to realize low weight structures, but also to improve the efficiency, obtain three dimensional antennas or built new artificial materials.