4
Capacitors for Extreme Temperature Applications--Sigma Technologies Interna-tional, Inc., 10960 N. Stallard Place, Tucson, AZ 85737; 520-575-8013
Dr. Angelo Yializis, Principal Investigator
Dr. Angelo Yializis, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-99ER82884
Amount: $750,000
There is a need to develop high temperature electronic components that can withstand the harsh environment of geothermal well drilling. The development of state-of-the-art polymer/ metal capacitors would introduce major improvements to high temperature scalable, on-the-spot, information systems associated with well drilling, data telemetry, and process control. This project will use high-rate vacuum-based polymer/metal multilayer (PML) technology to fabricate solvent free, low cost, lightweight, high temperature capacitors. Phase I successfully demonstrated that the polymer multilayer capacitors, composed of thousands of high temperature polymer dielectric layers separated with self-healing metal electrodes, have a superior performance over a wide range of temperatures (-235oC to 260oC). The upper temperature limit was extended by eliminating the low melting point solder at the capacitor's termination through the use of an arc metal spray method and by improving the polymer dielectrics used. In Phase II, PML capacitors with different polymer dielectrics will be further optimized and evaluated under several application-based conditions. Long-term life tests will be performed, and the temperature and performance limits will be investigated.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The PML capacitors should find uses in the high temperature capacitor and sensor market sectors, including deep geothermal wells, power electronic applications for aircraft, automotive, and specialty instrumentation.