Pulsed Power for Fuzes

TRS Technologies, Inc. along with CalRamic, LLC, and HEM Technologies, LLC will develop and test new ferroelectric generator components and very high energy density capacitors to dramatically reduce the size of detonation systems designed around multipoint Explosive Foil Initiators (EFI). We will develop high energy, highly efficient ferroelectric discharge elements for ferroelectric explosive generators (FEG's). These units will consist of multilayer ferroelectric ceramics designed with a high remnant polarization (Pr) and high depolarization field (and pressure) for high energy density. The multilayer elements will be constructed in a multiterminal format with inherent time delays so that one FEG can drive multiple EFI's. In addition, TRS will develop antiferroelectric capacitors for capacitive discharge units (CDU's). AFE capacitors can store up to 100X the energy of mica capacitor. The nonlinear characteristics of AFE capacitors will make them safer than conventional dielectrics. The capacitors can be designed so that a threshold voltage is required for the AFE to store sufficient energy to drive a detonator. At the conclusion of the Phase I program we will have developed the components required for a compact, multipoint EFI detonation system which will be prototyped in Phase II.