SBIR Phase I: A Novel Method to Produce Tantalum Filaments for Use in Electrolytic Capacitors

*96-0717王这个第一阶段的小型企业创新研究项目将开发一种方法，使用最初为超导体开发的技术来生产细小、均匀的钽(Ta)灯丝，并确定这些灯丝在电解电容器中的性能。随着制造商改进了钠还原工艺，用于电容器的现有钽粉的比容有所增加。然而，新粉末对电容器生产工艺参数，如烧结时间、温度和成型电压更为敏感。这迫使最终电容器在电容水平和负性能指标(如工作电压、漏电、击穿电压和等效串联电阻)之间做出妥协。此外，由于产量较低，新粉末的价格要贵得多。预计Ta长丝的性能将达到或超过商业粉末，而不存在任何性能缺陷，如对烧结温度或成型电压的敏感性，同时有望获得更高的产量和更低的成本。钽丝有能力满足相当大的电解电容器钽粉市场。***

*** 96-0717 Wong This Phase I Small Business Innovation Research project will develop a method of producing fine, uniform tantalum (Ta) filaments, using technology originally developed for superconductors, and determine the performanceof these filaments in electrolytic capacitors. Existing Ta powders used for capacitors have demonstrated increasing specific capacitance as the manufacturers have improved the sodium reduction process. However the new powders are more sensitive to capacitor production process parameters such as sintering time and temperature and forming voltage. This forces a compromise in the final capacitor between capacitance level and negative performance criteria such as operation voltage, leakage, breakdown voltage, and equivalent series resistance. In addition, the new powders are much more expensive due to the lower production yields. The performance of the Ta filaments is expected to meet or exceed that of commercially available powder without any of the performance drawbacks such as sensitivity to sintering temperature or forming voltage while promising higher yields and lower costs. The Ta filaments have the ability to address a sizable Ta powder market for electrolytic capacitors. ***