Development of New Lossy Material for Cryogenic and Ambient Applications--Ceradyne, Inc., 3169 Red Hill Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92626; 714-549-0421
Dr. Biljana Mikijelj, Principal Investigator
Mr. Howard George, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-99ER82759
Amount: $456,057

Current, commercially available microwave absorbing materials do not provide adequate microwave absorption at the extremely low temperatures (approaching absolute zero) that are required for operation in many super-cooled, superconductor-based particle accelerators. Specifically, the new Next Linear Collider requires a high volume of a lower cost lossy material for incorporation into its accelerator cells. This project will develop a commercial source of lossy materials, based on a ceramic aluminum-nitride (AlN) matrix, with temperature-independent properties. In Phase I, two cryogenically lossy material combinations were identified and confirmed to have temperature-independent dielectric loss properties under cryogenic conditions. Both materials are vacuum compatible and have been bonded to copper. Phase II will initiate material optimization and manufacturing scale-up for these materials. Both material densification hot-pressing and near-net-shape pressureless sintering techniques will be evaluated. Relevant material properties will be measured, and process capability will be determined.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The material should have lossy properties at extremely low temperatures for applications such as CEBAF. Larger markets for these materials include microwave tubes both for military applications and for high energy particle accelerators.

Return to Abstracts' Table of Contents