Modern electrical systems need EMI shielding without the extra weight
Electromagnetic interactions (EMI) are a serious challenge for electrical systems. Our increasing reliance on automated electronic systems coupled with growing electromagnetic "pollution" in the environment demands a fresh take. Aerospace and defense designers and engineers must produce products that effectively shielding sensitive electronic equipment from EMI without adding significant weight. Galvorn offers a promising solution for EMI shielding and lightweighting.
Lightweight CNT braid can replace heavy metal braids
Current commercial of-the-shelf-versions of these cables use copper braid as outer conductors. DexMat produced lightweight coaxial cables shielded with Galvorn carbon nanotube (CNT) braids. These CNT-based shielding components replaced heavy metal braids. The results included excellent shielding effectiveness (SE) and insertion loss (IL) performance, as well as significant weight savings.
Key Results
- Produced CNT shielded cable. The insertion loss of this cable met military specifications and the shielding effectiveness was comparable to a COTS cable.
- The CNT cable (including inner conductor, dielectric, shield, and insulating jacket) was over 50 % lighter than the COTs cable.
SBIR Award: Robust Lightweight CNT Wiring for Space Systems
Lightweight CNT film provides EMI shielding with superior flex endurance
Electromagnetic interactions (EMI) are a serious challenge for electrical systems. Our increasing reliance on automated electronic systems coupled with growing electromagnetic "pollution" in the environment demands a fresh take. Aerospace and defense designers and engineers must produce products that effectively shielding sensitive electronic equipment from EMI without adding significant weight. Galvorn offers a promising solution for EMI shielding and lightweighting.
CNT fiber core for strong, lightweight transmission cables
Prysmian is a world leader in cable manufacturing, energy solutions, telecom cables and systems. DexMat and Prysmian are co-developing new Aluminum Carbon Nanotube (ACNT) power cables.
The U.S. Department of Energy is funding the work though a $1.1 million grant. ACNT cables replace traditional steel or carbon fiber cores with Galvorn carbon nanotube fibers. Galvorn offers an exceptional combination of properties for this application:
- thermal conductivity
- electrical conductivity
- light weight
- breaking strength
- tensile strength
Galvorn cables could save $100K per mile
Using Galvorn minimizes the number of cable support towers needed and reduces the total cost to taxpayers. Food for thought: NREL estimates that the United States will need up to 91,000 miles of new inter-regional transmission lines by 2035. WIth savings of $100,000 per mile, the installation of 91,000 miles of new transmission lines, would result in a total savings of $9.1 billion. This figure does not include further savings derived from decreased line losses, enhanced reliability, and so on.
