Speaker
Description
Advancements are required in superconducting magnets for safe, reliable, economic, and environmentally benign operation in high-energy radiation environments such as nuclear fusion devices. Degradation of electric insulation, when exposed to high levels of radiation or high temperature of fusion devices, must be minimal. Innosense LLC (ISL) in collaboration with Florida State University and the University of California Davis developed metal oxide nanoparticle incorporated organic polymer composites (MONAP) to be used as wrap-able, radiation-resistant electrical insulation. MONAP builds on ISL’s proprietary organic polyurethane (PU)-polyimide (PI) copolymer (PUPI), thermally and mechanically robust polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and metal oxide (inorganic) nanoparticles (NPs) such as silica (SiO2), magnesium oxide (MgO) and zirconium oxide (ZrO2). The composite matrix is suitable for the desired temperature range of future fusion devices - cryogenic temperature to 100 oC and in the presence of ionizing nuclear radiation. This paper discusses MONAP and its characteristics of pot life, adhesion/bonding properties, flexibility, wrap-ability, thermos-mechanical stability, and dielectric strength before and after exposure to neutron radiation. Ongoing developments in optimizing MONAP formulation, scale-up methods, and commercialization potential are also discussed.
