High Energy Density, Fast-Rise Film Capacitors

The object of this proposal is to demonstrate the feasibility of two new film capacitor approaches to meet Army high-energy capacitor requirements. One is a new type of metallized polypropylene capacitor that already exceeds the Army energy density goal. The other is a new metallized polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) capacitor technology that has the potential to increase energy density by another factor of three. Phase I includes experiments with both types of capacitors to evaluate their capability to meet Army capacitor requirements for energy density, rise-time, pulse repetition rate and lifetime. Based on the test results, and working in collaboration with a capacitor manufacturer and a film manufacturer, we will develop a plan to produce full-scale capacitors for the Army and make specific recommendations for development in Phase II.