Mechanical and electrical properties of wrappable ceramic insulation

High field accelerator and fusion magnets demand superior electrical insulation for top performance. To achieve maximum field strength and system lifetime, high strength and high modulus insulation must be employed. A new wrappable inorganic insulation system has been developed that combines the high strength and modulus of a ceramic composite with the ease of processing of an organic insulation. This new ceramic insulation is applied prior to the superconductor heat treatment and can be processed from 600 degrees to 900 degrees C. These properties make it ideal for wind and react manufacturing methods, thus allowing more complex coil designs and reduced processing costs. Development work on the ceramic insulation described here has achieved double the compression modulus of current high strength organic insulation. This paper describes the thermal, mechanical and electrical performance of this wrappable inorganic insulation system. Shear, compression, and dielectric breakdown strength tests results are presented.