Technologies to Products on the Leading Edge

Capacitance Products Division

TPL, Inc. is a leader in the development of advanced dielectric materials. The mission of the Capacitance Products Division is to conduct research and development into promising new areas which exploit the existing capabilities of the company and which will generate new products for TPL, Inc. Our primary focus is in the development of advanced dielectric materials for high performance capacitance devices. High energy density polymers, nano-size ceramic powders and combinations thereof are being fabricated with state-of-the-art performance for a range of electrical insulation and capacitor applications. TPL is dedicated to customer satisfaction and welcomes inquiries on custom dielectrics.

Nano-Powders Ceramics & Nano-Composites
High Energy Density Film Capacitors

TPL Nano-Powders

TPL offers a range of titanate powders with controlled size and chemistry. The nano-size powders are produced via an aqueous, low temperature process that allows for binary and tertiary oxide compositions with controlled stoichiometries. (Standard compositions include barium and strontium titanate.) The ultra-fine particle size, 50 to 400 nano meters (nm) of these ceramic powders make them ideal for ultra-thin dielectric layers in composites and ceramic capacitors. TPL has the ability to provide nano-powder formulations to customer specifications.

NanOxide™ Powder Products

TPL offers a range of titanate powders with controlled size and chemistry. NanOxide™ powders are produced via an aqueous, low temperature process that allows for binary and tertiary oxide compositions with controlled stoichiometries. The crystalline ceramic powders have uniform spherical morphology and high dielectric constant with sintering temperatures as low as 1000° C. Various dopants can be used with binary compositions to modify properties for a wide range of ferroelectric applications. The ultra-fine particle size makes the powders ideal for thin ceramic capacitor layers and embedded polymer/ ceramic laminates.

<100 nm 200 nm 400 nm 800 nm
Barium Titantate HPB-1000 HPB-2000 HPB-4000 N/A
Strontium Titantate HPS-1000 HPS-2000 HPS-4000 N/A
Barium Strontium Titanate HBS-1000 HBS-2000 N/A HBS-8000
Specialty Titanate & Modified Composites Particle size & formulation prepared to customer specifications

When introducing NanOxide™ powders into your process, please keep the following points in mind:

  • The manufacturing process for barium titanate includes a drying step which induces soft agglomeration (roughly 75 micron size particles). These agglomerates are easily broken up by ultrasonication or ball milling.
  • Some harder agglomerates will also exist in the powder comprising several to tens of particles. Because of the extremely fine particle size, these agglomerates require more energy than is traditionally required for larger, micron sized particles. In other words, when switching from micron sized powder to nano-sized powder it may be necessary to lengthen milling time.
  • Because of the extremely high surface area, higher surfactant concentrations are typically necessary to disperse nano-sized barium titanate relative to micron sized powder.

NanOxide™ - High Purity Barium Titanate (HPB) & Strontium Titanate (HPS)

Key Features

Powders are available with nominal particle sizes of <100 nm, 200 nm and 400 nm. The crystalline ceramic powders have uniform spherical morphology and high dielectric constant, with sintering temperatures as low as 1000° C. Precise stoiciometry and high chemic purity are also key features. Various dopants can be used in binary compositions to tailor properties for a variety of applications.

Applications

Multi-layer ceramic capacitors, Microelectronic discrete capacitors, Capacitance laminates for printed wiring board, Embedded capacitance materials, Insulator rings for high power surge arrestors, Specialty ceramic products.

HPB powders are crystallographically cubic, phase pure barium titanate. It is suitable for use in formulating X7R compositions for air fire and reducing atmospheres. In addition, base metal electrode compositions may also be developed. TPL, Inc. has worked with numerous companies to develop and manufacture compositions tailored to their processes. The formulations developed for those customers are proprietary; therefore, TPL, Inc. can not sell these formulations to outside users. TPL is happy to work with all customers who can provide a desired composition. We are capable of doping barium titanate both homogeneously and heterogeneously to yield either, or both, solid solutions or core/shell compositions.
High Purity Barium Titanate
High Purity Strontium Titanate

NanOxide™ - Custom Titanate Formulation

High Purity Barium/Strontium Titanate

Solid solution compositions are fully adjustable to any ratio, from 1% to 99% strontium. Similarly, the primary particle size can be adjusted for the application, typically in the range of 50 nm to 500 nm. As such, barium/strontium titanate formulations are considered a specialty product and are manufactured upon request. The dielectric constant on the barium/strontium titanate is typically between 10,000 and 15,000.

High Purity Specialty Titanate Compositions

TPL is dedicated to customer satisfaction and values the necessity of custom formulations in a variety of manufacturing products. TPL’s unique manufacturing process allows tremendous flexibility in the production of ceramic titanates. As with the HSB, mixed metal titanate formulations can be produced with a wide range of compositions. In addition the particle size of the powder can be varied from 50 nm to 1,000 nm.

TPL’s versatile manufacturing also means that a wide variety of dopants can be added to any ceramic titanate over a range of concentrations. Dopants can be added homogeneously and heterogeneously to our ceramic titanates. Homogeneous additions yield solid solutions while heterogeneous additions are designed to yield core/shell structures to MLCC applications. TPL encourages requests for chemical formulations that will meet customer specifications.

NanOxide™484 - Particle Dispersant and Slurries

TPL has considerable experience with dispersing nano-size particles in a variety of mediums. All NanOxide™ powders are available in aqueous and non-aqueous slurry form as a specialty product. TPL will work with customers to determine an appropriate solvent for the application. In addition, our NanoSperse™484 has also been made available for purchase separately as a dispersant.

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Ceramics & Nano-Composites

Nano Composite Dielectrics

TPL’s composite dielectric material represents a significant breakthrough in dielectric materials for high energy density capacitors. Efforts in this area have transitioned from materials development, supported by basic R & D contracts, to device fabrication for a number of pulsed power and directed energy applications.

TPL has developed composite materials possessing a high dielectric constant (k>50) and forming capabilities of a polymer. The nanocomposite dielectric can be molded into engineering substrates or cast into complex electrode structures for producing high voltage capacitive components. TPL has established processes for fabricating substrate dielectric and capacitors in a number of configurations including strip lines, rods, sheets and blocks.

Ceramic Components

TPL designs and produces specialty ceramic components using formulated titanate powder. Specialty parts, primarily for high voltage and high frequency applications, are produced to meet custom dimensions and electrical properties. TPL’s processes accommodate a range of capacitor and substrate geometries. In addition, powder formulations are tailored to achieve specific performance characteristics including dielectric constant, dielectric loss and insulation resistance.
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High Energy Density Film Capacitors

TPL has established specialty fabrication capabilities for production of high voltage capacitors with significantly reduced size and weight. TPL’s metallized film capacitors have demonstrated energy densities of over twice that of current state-of-the-art capacitors. TPL’s new capacitors are considered an enabling technology for a number of military and select commercial pulsed power systems.

Polymer Film Capacitors

TPL’s unique capabilities are based on a molecularly designed dielectric polymer. The innovative design and process, involves continuous coating of TPL’s polymer onto high density paper and custom metallizing to specification. Conventional winding and compact packaging of TPL’s film allows for energy densities of 2.5 J/cc

Composite Film Capacitors

High Temperature Applications

TPL has developed processes for fabricating unique capacitors that possess both high operating temperature and high specific capacitance. The dielectric is a nanocomposite material system comprised of TPL’s nanosize titanate particles and a thermally stable polymer. This innovative capacitors are projected to be thermally stable at 300°C and have volumetric efficiency over twice that of conventional high-temperature devices, 3.0µF/cc.

High Voltage Applications

Composite dielectric films are being developed using a combination of TPL’s molecularly designed dielectric polymer and TPL’s nanosize titanate particles. The unique approach is based on a composite material that offers a combination of high dielectric constant and high dielectric strength. TPL’s nanosize, titanate powders are uniformly dispersed and aligned (structured) in a thermal setting polymer film matrix. TPL projects capacitor capabilities with an energy density greater than 5.0 J/cc.
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