Modified Polymer with High Permittivity for High Energy Storage Application

Capacitors with significantly higher packaged energy densities (at least 4 J/cc) and the ability to operate at high temperatures (target at least 120 degrees Celsius) are needed for Navy/DoD applications including railguns, directed energy weapons, all electric ships, and power conditioning. Current capacitors based on polypropylene dielectrics have low energy densities (~ 1 J/cc) and limited thermal ranges (~80 degrees Celsius or lower). Polymer dielectrics with improved dielectric properties, high thermal stability, and the ability to be easily manufactured are needed. Lynntech has developed advanced polymer nanocomposite dielectrics that can enable the development of capacitors with higher energy densities and the ability to operate at elevated temperatures. During the Phase I, polymer/ceramic nanocomposite dielectrics that showed significant improvements in dielectric constant and breakdown strength compared to the base polymer were demonstrated. During the Phase II project, Lynntech will optimize the film properties and film casting, and develop prototype dielectric capacitors that provide higher energy densities and higher temperature operation than current dielectric capacitors. The objective of the Phase II base and option periods is to develop a 1 kJ wound capacitor that is a subunit of a military capacitor and has a packaged energy density of at least 4 J/cc.