Development of a Low‐Cost Ceramic Insulation Material for Magnet Applications

Abstract

Future magnet designs for fusion devices and particle accelerators will require cost‐effective, radiation‐resistant materials. The use of hybrid inorganic/organic composite insulation systems will improve the lifetime, reliability, and performance of these systems. Previously, Composite Technology Development, Inc. (CTD) developed a highly‐radiation‐resistant, hybrid inorganic/organic insulation system, CTD‐1012PX, which can be co‐processed with the magnet’s Nb3Sn superconductor. This process allows the coil to be wound and insulated prior to heat treatment. However, the cost of the CTD‐1012PX insulation system is generally higher than organic insulations due to the higher prices of the ceramic fibers and ceramic‐matrix precursor materials. Recently, CTD demonstrated the potential for significantly reducing the cost of hybrid ceramic/organic insulation through the development of a lower‐cost inorganic‐matrix system and the use of lower‐cost reinforcement fibers. Without accounting for the cost of a yet‐to...