The predominant NASA commercial application lies in a drop-in replacement for current 6-81.3 permalloy fluxgate ring cores. The exact fabrication process that resulted in the ultra-low noise operation of NASA's world class magnetic sensors has been lost since its inception. As such, there are relatively few appropriate materials that are commercially available and viable alternatives to the diminishing supply of permalloy material. Consultation with NASA customers, particularly those in the GSFC mag group, will place Prime Photonics in a unique position to offer a material that has been designed specifically for use in NASA space-based magnetometer missions. Additional uses of the proposed technology lie in magnetic shielding as replacements for mu-metal materials. The amorphous nature of our materials have the potential to provided enhanced reduction in eddy current generation, and advanced flux steering around sensitive components. Furthermore, the ability to tune the ferromagnetic properties of the alloy can allow for a host of NASA applications, from EMI shielding to alternative modality magnetic sensors to components of composite particulate shielding.
Commercial applications for the technology outside of NASA interests include much overlap. While there exist alternative magnetic sensing technologies more suitable to terrestrial applications, certain of those technologies can benefit from the advanced material properties of the proposed technology. We have demonstrated an ability to tune the material properties through alloy composition and preparation techniques. As such, we can tailo the material to provide for elevated magnetostriction of increased permeability, both of which can serve as foundations for alternative sensor modalities. One of the most important potential applications of the material lies in the fabrication of transformer core laminations. The controllable magnetostriction, high permeability, low electrical conductivity, and low coercivity would all contribute to a significant reduction in parasitic energy loss in residential and industry power distribution grids.
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