Refractory Paint for High Voltage Insulators

This Phase I program will result in a tough refractory paint that adheres to a variety of plastic insulators with complex shapes creating a strong, adherent, refractory coating with optimal surface roughness. The proposed program targets the properties of the vacuum-insulator interface for high voltage applications and has commercial applications in a wide range of electronic and electrical devices and systems including High Power Microwave tubes and high-energy particle accelerators. Plastic insulators with a thin layer of refractory paint will have increased surface flashover voltage and improved strength in high voltage applications. The refractory paint developed within this Phase I opportunity will be easily sprayed onto the surface, cured at a low temperature, and adherent to a wide variety of insulating plastics. The surface roughness of the insulator will be optimized by the inherent roughness of the paint. The vacuum outgassing characteristics and durability of the paint during plasma gun discharges will be identified. Since the refractory paint developed in this Phase I program will be sprayed using commercially available paint sprayers to form uniform films, complex shapes will easily be coated.