Monolithic flow tube with improved dielectric properties for use with a magnetic flowmeter

A flowtube comprising:

• a tubular inner conduit adapted to pass a fluid therethrough, the inner conduit comprising a dielectric material having a dielectric loss tangent, tan .delta., of less than 0.002 at 10 Hz between -40.degree. C. and 200.degree. C.;
• electrode means, adjacent the exterior surface of the inner flow conduit and capacitively coupled to the inner flow conduit;
• an outer layer of ceramic material pressed adjacent the exterior surface of the inner conduit and the electrode means;
• and
• said inner flow conduit, said electrode means, and said outer ceramic layer fired together to form a sintered monolithic flowtube body.

A flowtube comprising:

• a tubular flow conduit adopted to pass a fluid therethrough, the conduit comprising a dielectric material having a combined total of less than 100 parts per million by weight of impurities selected from the group consisting of sodium and potassium;
• and
• electrode means, embedded within the tubular conduit and capacitively coupled to said inner flow conduit,
• said tubular conduit and electrode means forming a monolithic flowtube body.