Inorganic Nanostructured High-Temperature Magnet Wires, Phase I

This topic addresses the need for functional high-temperature magnet wire coatings. Eltron Research & Development has the experience to produce a conformal insulating coating that far exceeds the maximum working temperature of current magnet wires while maintaining excellent flexibility and mechanical toughness. Magnet wire is widely used in most motors, pumps, power generators, alternators, power transformers, particle accelerators and MRI/NMR instruments. Providers within these diverse markets strive to reduce the physical size and increase the output of these devices. As a result, operating temperatures increase and conventional wire insulation fails. Eltron's high-temperature magnet wire will allow for continuous operation up to at least 500 deg. C (932 deg. F). No known competitors produce magnet wire with comparable functionality in this temperature range. In addition, the proposed magnet wire coatings are vacuum compatible¬óan advantage for applications in the aerospace and nuclear physics sectors. Electric propulsion devices such as Hall effect thrusters make use of electromagnets to steer and confine charged particles as an integral part of the propulsion system. Current designs are limited by the capability of the magnet wire to survive high-temperature operation. The operating temperature in current designs is a result of both joule heating effects derived from high current loads dissipated by the magnets and close proximity to hot plasma from the thruster. Improved insulation will increase the maximum operating temperature, allowing for greater flexibility in placement and design while also facilitating higher field strengths through larger current loads across the magnet circuits. More »