7
Fabrication
of Polyimide Inertial Fusion Energy Target Capsules by a Fully Automated
Process--Luxel
Corporation, P.O. Box 1879, Friday Harbor, WA
98250-1879; 360-378-4137
Ms. Heidi deLopez, Principal Investigator, luxel@pacificrim.net
Mr.
Dan Wittkopp, Business Official, luxel@pacificrim.net
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG03-01ER83263
Amount:
$99,894
It
is desirable to mass produce low cost targets for Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE)
by a fully automated process. This
project will adapt and improve techniques currently in development for producing
targets for the National Ignition Facility for this application.
In particular, an automated process will be developed to form and coat a
polyimide mandrel until the desired wall thickness is obtained. The polyimide will then be imidized in place to achieve the
desired material properties. In
Phase I, mandrels will be formed using an innovative bubble blowing technique
leading to in situ levitation and curing.
Coating and curing parameters will be varied to determine an optimal
process. The coated, cured
capsules will be characterized. To
the extent possible, production processes will be automated to show the
feasibility of fabricating target capsules within the desired cost constraints.
Commercial
Applications And Other Benefits as
described by awardee: Commercialization of the target fabrication process should
speed the development of fusion reactors for producing electric power at an
economical price. Mass-produced
target capsules could cost less than $0.30 each.