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Investigating Scalable Manufacturing Of High-Conductivity Wires And Coatings From Ultra-Long Carbon Nanotubes, Pouria Khanbolouki

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a promising candidate for next generation of electrical wirings and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials due to their exceptional mechanical and electrical properties. Wires and coatings from ultralong nanotubes that are highly crystalline, well-aligned and densely packed can achieve this goal. High-performance CNT conductors will be relatively lightweight and resistant to harsh conditions and therefore can potentially replace current conductors in many industries including aerospace, automotive, gas and oil.

This thesis investigates a new manufacturing approach, based on conventional solution coating and wire drawing methods, to fabricate high conductivity wires and coatings from ultra-long carbon nanotubes. …

Packaging Strategy For High Voltage And High Shock Environments, Kevin Austin

Mechanical Engineering Student Publications

The historical design approach for ensuring survivability in devices that operate at high voltages which would arc in air or that must survive substantial shock loadings employs an encapsulant whose dielectric strength prevents electrical breakdown and whose modulus prevents gross movement of the embedded components. While mostly successful, this approach presents some significant design challenges: (1) the high thermal expansion of the epoxy leads to large stresses during thermal cycles, (2) degassing of the epoxy before cure and careful encapsulation are essential to eliminate voids that could initiate dielectric breakdown, (3) the internal components are embedded deep within an impenetrable …