High-Temperature Electric Wires

ABSTRACT: Electric wires and cables constitute by far the largest weight portion of aircraft electrical power systems, as well as a large fraction of the entire aircraft weight. For example, a modern transport aircraft contains over 200 miles of wire, and an F-22 aircraft has about 20 miles of wiring. The increased emphasis and reliance on fly-by-wire technology and avionics for modern aircraft has resulted in wiring becoming a critical safety-of-flight system. Aerospace vehicles continue to increase in wire system complexity and volume as traditional mechanical systems, such as flight controls and flight surface control actuators, are converted to all electric systems. DexMat is developing a technology for coating doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with impermeable barrier films. Under this Phase I project, DexMat will adapt the use of metallic barrier film coatings to prevent the egression of CNT dopants and, thus, preserve high electrical conductivity even if the fiber is subjected to high-temperature environments.; BENEFIT: The proposed primary production of DexMat technology is directed to the commercial and military aviation segments, mainly companies seeking to reduce the weight of their aircraft design. Beyond these customers, the potential uses of CNT wires and films include a broad spectrum of military and civilian applicationsfrom lightweight aerospace cables, to power and data conduits for wearable electronics, to health monitoring and diagnostic sensors.