NASA UPN 104-07-01.1 JPL Project #:102197-1.21.5

NEPP QUARTERLY PROGRESS REVIEW

TASK TITLE: Tantalum Polymer Capacitors YEAR: 2nd Qtr FY05COORDINATING CENTER: JPLPARTICIPATING CENTER/S: JPL,GSFCPROGRAM AREA: NEPPTASK MANAGER: Erik Reed, JPLFY05 FUNDING: $100k CUSTOMER: OSMA

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TASK DESCRIPTION Tantalum Polymer Capacitors

GOALS/OBJECTIVES Tantalum Polymer Capacitors

• Determine manufactures of tantalum polymer capacitors that might be of potential interest to the space community.

• Understand the materials, processing, and construction. • Characterize typical electrical performance at DC, low frequencies, and high

frequencies as well as performance at high and low temperatures.• Identify potential weaknesses/failure mechanisms.• Obtain representative test samples and corresponding MnO2 samples.• Design and execute test plan to assess robustness versus MnO2 devices.• Decide whether this new technology is worthy of additional study, modeling,

and qualification testing.

• Investigate construction, electrical performance, and reliability of tantalum polymer capacitors relative to conventional MnO2-based capacitors of similar capacitance and rated voltage.

• Determine whether these new, high-performance capacitors provide sufficiently compelling benefits to be considered for space applications.

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DELIVERABLES Tantalum Polymer Capacitors

FY05 Deliverables Quarter Due

Date Completed

Initiate project and update task description 2Q 2/28/05

Attend CARTS conference 2Q 3/24/05

Quarterly progress report 2Q 4/25/05

Collect performance data from vendors 3Q

Quarterly progress report 3Q

Complete vendor visits 4Q

Purchase test samples 4Q

Interim project report 4Q

Quarterly progress report 4Q

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SCHEDULETantalum Polymer Capacitors

• 2Q05 – Initiate project and adjust work scope and schedule to best meet NASA needs.

• 2Q05 – Identify vendors of Ta Polymer capacitors that manufacture the specific capacitors of greatest potential interest for space use.

• 3Q05 – Collect data from catalogs/web sites and contact vendors.• 3Q05 – Initiate dialog regarding materials and construction, request preliminary

samples, and schedule vendor visits.• 4Q05 – Complete vendor visits.• 4Q05 – Identify and purchase suitable high-volume test samples.• 4Q05 – Publish interim report on materials, processing, construction, advertised

performance benefits and typical target applications.• 1Q06 – Perform failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) to identify potential

weaknesses and establish basis for focus of test program.• 1Q06 – Perform detailed construction analysis of representative samples.• 2Q06 – Define test plan and initiate testing.• 3Q06 – Report on intermediate test results• 4Q06 – Write final report and recommend continued investigation if compelling

performance/reliability is discovered.