Lightweight High Power Metal Rubber™ Electrical Cables for CG(X) IPS

This program would demonstrate the feasibility of replacing heavy high power electrical distribution cables with lightweight Metal RubberTM cables. Lightweight power dense cables are important as feeds from primary power transmission lines below deck to high power weapon and radar systems above deck. Metal Rubber™ is a low modulus self-assembled nanocomposite with electrical conductivity on the order of that of bulk copper (107 S/m). Its mass density (1 g/cm3) is much less than that of copper (8.96 g/c m3), meaning Metal Rubber™ cables may offer significant weight savings over conventional copper cables or superconductor-based cable installations which require refrigeration and insulation. Due to its mechanical flexibility, installing Metal Rubber™ cables after ship sections are interconnected would be easier than installing heavy, rigid copper cables or superconductor transmission line assemblies. During Phase I, NanoSonic would work with input from a major ship system manufacturer, and design, fabricate and analyze the properties of representative Metal Rubber™ cables. These hardware test articles will allow direct calculation of maximum current density and temperature, and total possible weight reduction. Technical specifications and weight considerations would be used to downselect optimal development paths during a possible Phase II program in cooperation with that ship system manufacturer.