High Power Density Capacitors for High Temperature Navy Applications

TPL proposes the development of processes for fabricating capacitor-grade dielectric films that possess both high operating temperature and high specific capacitance attributes. The dielectric is a TPL nano-composite material system comprised of TPL¡¦s 50nm sized barium titanate (BaTiO3 or BT) and florinone polyester (FPE); TPL successfully demonstrated the synthesis and merits of this dielectric system in prior research. The proposed program will focus on transitioning TPL¡¦s nano-composite material system into capacitor-grade dielectric films suitable for construction of high temperature and volumetrically efficient capacitors. Model capacitors will be designed and fabricated to serve in the validation of the process development activities. Production-grade capacitors produced with this innovative dielectric system are projected to be thermally stable at 300,aC and have volumetric efficiency over twice that of conventional high-temperature devices. The targeted application of this technology is for electronic power systems such as DC-DC converters. Other government and commercial systems that require high energy-storage density in wide-temperature operations are expected to benefit as well; examples include under-hood automobile, down-hole well drilling and aircraft/spacecraft engine compartment systems. Several major capacitor manufacturers including Aerovox Corp., Custom Capacitor, Dearborn/Sprague and Electronic Concepts have expressed interest in the FPE nano-composite films as well as a willingness to manufacture and characterize the films in prototype capacitors.