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Kapton?




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From:  Michael Baumann [SMTP:baumann-at-proton.llumc.edu]
Sent:  Sunday, March 15, 1998 6:34 PM
To:  Tesla List
Subject:  Re: Kapton?

On Sat, 14 Mar 1998, Tesla List wrote:

> 
> > 
> > What the heck is "kapton" insulated wire?  Is that the same as Teflon 
> > (PTFE)?
I think the generic name is polyamide

> I'm sure someone else on the list will jump in with the dielectric 
> constant and voltage ratings of Kapton.  I just wanted to mention 
> that this insulation has been extensively used throughout the 
> aerospace industry to insulate the wiring in both aircraft and 
> spacecraft.  Unfortunately, it has been shown to fail in a 
> catastrophic mode.  Once the thin insulation has been compromised due 
> to a nick or excessive flexing, and an arc is created, the insulation 
> vaporizes, contributing to even more arcing.  In a mater of seconds 
> the arc can travel down between adjacent wires, causing a tremendous 
> amount of spreading electrical failure.  Several aircraft crashes and 
> loss of life was directly traced to failure of Kapton insulated wire. 
>  I have enough shorts between my adjacent wires in my coils without 
> compounding the failures with Kapton wire failing in catastrophic 
* mode, thank you!
* 
The catch is that you need to nick, or flex it.
We use it heavily in our accelerator - more for the very nice
low outgassing, than for any other reason
[Although it has some pretty good numbers for standoff.

--
Michael Baumann  Optivus Technology Inc.|Loma Linda University Medical Center
San Bernardino, California. (909)799-8308 |Internet: baumann-at-llumc.edu