Light Weight-High Strength Electrical Cables for Military Applications

To develop, demonstrate, build and characterize several different gauge size cables which will be capable of increase current carrying capacity as compared to a standard copper electrical power cable of similar gauge size. These strands and cables will have the potential for significant weight and size reductions, as well as strength improvements for power cables across the military, industrial, and commercial markets. Electrical conductors are key components of just about every power device or system. However, increasing demands for power and data pushes the need for more capacity, and the total contribution of electrical conductor weight to the system has become significant in aircraft, ships, rail, automobiles and the warfighter. In this Phase I and eventual Phase II we propose the development for carbon nanotube (CNT) /Cu current carrying composite cables, in terms of improving their electrical properties, thermal properties, and tensile properties. We will focus on CNT yarns that are plated with Cu and insulated; on the properties of conductivity, ampacity (maximum current which can be carried); thermal conductivity; and mass normalized values. These strands and cables will be insulated and characterized. It will also be necessary to consider other aspects, including strength, scalability, affordability, and manufacturing processes.