Low temperature thermal properties of composite insulation systems

Abstract

The thermal contraction and thermal conductivity of candidate composite insulation systems for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor toroidal field coils were measured from 295 to 4 K. Matrix materials consisted of a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A epoxy suitable for vacuum impregnation, a tetrafunctional epoxy suitable for pre-impregnation, a polyimide system produced by a high-pressure laminating process, and a bismaleimide system. These matrix materials were combined with S-2 glass fabric and various barrier systems, such as ceramic and organic coatings, polyimide film and mica/glass. Thermal contraction was measured by the strain gauge method in which strain gauges are attached directly to the specimen. The thermal contraction in the through-thickness direction was different at 4 K for each resin system and changed slightly with the addition of electrical barriers. The thermal conductivity of the materials, with and without the electrical barriers, was similar at 4 K, but more distinctive at higher temperatures. The systems with the ceramic coatings exhibited the highest thermal conductivities at all temperatures.