Polyamide 66 as a Cryogenic Dielectric
- ORNL
Improvements in superconductor and cryogenic technologies enable novel power apparatus, \eg, cables, transformers, fault current limiters, generators, \etc, with better device characteristics than their conventional counterparts. In these applications electrical insulation materials play an important role in system weight, footprint (size), and voltage level. The trend in the electrical insulation material selection has been to adapt or to employ conventional insulation materials to these new systems. However, at low temperatures, thermal contraction and loss of mechanical strength in many materials make them unsuitable for superconducting power applications. In this paper, a widely used commercial material was characterized as a potential cryogenic dielectric. The material is used in ``oven bag'' a heat-resistant polyamide (nylon) used in cooking (produced by Reynolds\textregistered, Richmond, VA, USA). It is first characterized by Fourier transform infrared and x-ray diffraction techniques and determined to be composed of polyamide 66 (PA66) polymer. Secondly the complex dielectric permittivity and dielectric breakdown strength of the PA66 films are investigated. The dielectric data are then compared with data reported in the literature. A comparison of dielectric strength with a widely used high-temperature superconductor electrical insulation material, polypropylene-laminated paper (PPLP\texttrademark\ a product of Sumitomo Electric Industries, Japan), is provided. It is observed that the statistical analysis of the PA66 films yields 1\% failure probability at $$127\ \kilo\volt\milli\meter^{-1}$$; this value is approximately $$46\ \kilo\volt\milli\meter^{-1}$$ higher than PPLP\texttrademark. It is concluded that PA66 may be a good candidate for cryogenic applications. Finally, a summary of dielectric properties of some of the commercial tape insulation materials and various polymers is also provided.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- OE USDOE - Office of Electric Transmission and Distribution
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 963684
- Journal Information:
- Cryogenics, Vol. 49, Issue 9; ISSN 0011-2275
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BREAKDOWN
CABLES
CONTRACTION
CRYOGENICS
CURRENT LIMITERS
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
ELECTRICAL INSULATION
NYLON
PERMITTIVITY
POLYAMIDES
POLYMERS
PROBABILITY
SUPERCONDUCTORS
TRANSFORMERS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
Dielectric relaxation
cryogenic dielectrics
high voltage technology