Materials for Improved Vacuum Performance in High Power Electromagnetic (HPEM) Source Devices

HPEM and Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) require extremely high voltage and high power in very compact packages to enable mobile, airborne, and space deployment. For operation, a high power pulse is coupled through vacuum-compatible dielectric components such as insulating feedthroughs. These dielectrics must maintain the high vacuum of a vacuum electric device (VED) indefinitely without leakage, and withstand high voltages and large mechanical stresses. DTI will build on the high voltage dielectric polymer standoff insulator demonstrated in Phase I that, itself, built on work demonstrating high electric field surface breakdown standoff of high-voltage glass insulators. The Phase II effort will expand upon the Phase I results to determine the ideal polymer insulator with low density, high mechanical strength, and high temperature capability; most likely a PEEK composite. Further efforts will be made to improve the design of the grooves on the substrate to increase voltage standoff and to improve the coating and baking temperature to drive off impurities and limit outgassing. After finalizing the optimal material and design, DTI will work with AFRL to design the product to their testing specifications and, ultimately, test that product at their facilities for future incorporation into AF HPEM and DEW systems.