10
Moldable Ceramic Composites for
High Field Magnet Applications—Multi
Mr. John A. Rice,
Mr. John A. Rice, Business
Official, multiphasecomposites@excite.com
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-04ER84014
Amount: $349,826
High field magnets, such as those
used in High Energy Physics facilities, require precision placement of the
superconducting cables to achieve high performance. However, current coated metal insulators used
for end shoes and spacers have sharp points that can easily damage the cable
insulation during installation. When
assembling the magnet, these spacers can be pushed through the fabric, damage
it, and potentially flake off the coating.
Electrical shorts can result that require rework. This project will develop novel moldable
ceramic insulators for use in accelerator and fusion magnets, in order to
minimize the potential for insulation damage and shorting. The material can be used in place of the
sharp tips or wherever small gaps exist. The
insulators will be capable of withstanding the high mechanical loads at
cryogenic temperatures, surviving the high temperature heat treatments, and
resisting radiation. Phase I demonstrated that moldable ceramic compounds can be easily formed
to the desired shape or packed into small gaps within a magnet structure. Characterization included strength
measurement, thermal expansion, and dimensional control. Phase II will focus on the optimization of
the composition and processing to further increase strength and to control other
properties such as thermal expansion.
Evaluation of the mixing, drying, and firing processing stages will be
performed. Compressive strength, thermal
expansion, and electrical properties will be measured at room temperature and
cryogenic temperatures.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The ceramic insulators should be more robust and reliable than existing materials used in high field accelerator and fusion magnet systems. More robust insulators would lower magnet production cost, which will help enable future devices to be constructed within budgetary restrictions. Commercial magnets could also benefit from molded insulator components, increasing their reliability at lower cost.