Characterization of the temperature dependence of the electrical and mechanical properties of a high breakdown strength nanodielectric composite

Advancements in the field of very compact, high dielectric strength, nanodielectric material capacitors have continued to be made. The capacitors are constructed from a proprietary nanodielectric, MU100, which is a polymer-ceramic composite composed of barium titanate and a binding agent. The MU100 material exhibits several novel qualities-including high dielectric strength along with facile machining and assembly characteristics. Electrical property characterization data of MU100 has been collected at standard ambient temperature conditions. Assessing MU100's properties over a wide temperature range is necessary to verify its suitability for field application and for continued improvement of capacitor design. The dielectric constant and thermal expansion were measured for the MU100 material from -40°C to 120°C. The results demonstrate the nanodielectric has a strong stability both electrically and mechanically across the entire temperature test range. The maximum dielectric constant change of MU100 relevant to standard temperature was +/-9.8% occurring at 130°C. The maximum linear coefficient of thermal expansion found was 1.5 PPM/°C. These values suggest that the MU100 material is suitable for high voltage applications where harsh environmental conditions are expected. It combines the thermal stability of ceramic substrates with the ability to easily machine and assemble the material.