Advanced Magnetic Metamaterials

"The essential problem that arises when developing hybrid excitation machines or alternators is the creation of advanced nanocomposite magnetic materials. The problem can be overcome by utilizing new nano-structured soft/permanent magnetic materials withthe required magnetic, thermal and elastic properties. The real advance in this direction is the creation of new functional matrices and the use of novel principles for the fabrication of nano-sized incorporated elements. One of the possible ways toprogress in this field is to utilize magnetic nano-particles in new matrices such as polyethylene and ceramics. The suitable properties of these materials, which would operate under such hazardous environmental conditions as high and low temperatures,mechanical shock, humidity, etc., as a result of the bonding or sintering of nano-particles will open up the possibility of using these materials as a part of the Army's hybrid excitation machines/alternators. The brittleness that limits the area ofpotential application of ceramics can be overcome by reducing the particle sizes to nano-meter levels. Beltran proposes to utilize magnetic materials in the form of nano-particles incorporated in thermostable polyethylene or ceramic matrices. The proposedconcept should improve active control, increase the operating temperature and prevent aging. The main technical objectives of the Phase I effort are to develop a new approach to improve the magnetic,