TERFENOL-D Lamination Process Cost Reduction

All high performance TERFENOL-D sonar devices require the drivers to be laminated for eddy current control. The process of laminating TERFENOL-D to present interlamina resistivity requirements results in low yields due to considerable material loss and is, therefore, a wasteful process. The objective of this program is to define and experimentally verify accurate interlamina resistivity levels for high performance TERFENOL-D drivers which also ensure acceptable power losses. Phase I will conclusively prove analytical theory which predicts relative independence of driver performance upon lamina conductivity. Proving that existing requirements can be safely relaxed, will have an immediate effect on TERFENOL-D high performance sonar driver yields resulting in almost 50% cost reduction.