ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO10680
Open Date: 11/03/2021
Closing Date: 15/07/2021 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 21.1TT.12
Prog. Ref.: CC-AT 4.0.1
Budget Ref.: E/0534-01G – CC-AT 4.0.1
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+CA+HU+PL
Tender Type: C
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Materials / Composite Materials / Reinforcement Material: Others
Technology Domains: Materials and Processes / Materials for Electronic Assembly / Verification of Electronic Assemblies
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate Telecom & Integrated Applica
Department: Telecom Technologies,Product&Systems Dep
Division: Technologies and Products Division
Contract Officer: Piesche, Claudia Ria
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 11/03/2021
Update Reason: Tender issue

The objective of this activity is to develop European alternatives for high-voltage, high-temperature resins with enhanced performance for use in Electronic Power Conditioners (EPC) for travelling wave tube amplifiers and in electric propulsion applications. Targeted Improvements: Mitigate the risk of obsolescence of non-European resins and create a European Source providing control over theformulation and an operational stability of at least 5000 hours at 95 degrees C and 8 kV. Description: Resins are essential materialsin high-voltage isolation technology. Many payload and platform units depend on the availability of such resins. EPC components such as transformers, high voltage rectifiers and high voltage connection terminals use such resins for potting to avoid high voltage breakdown and guarantee proper insulation in accordance with space requirements. The resins currently used in high-temperature, high-voltage (8 kV and higher) applications are of non-European origin. This dependence increases the risk of obsolescence and the risk of potential export restrictions in future. In addition, a European solution would allow optimisation of the resin for the targeted applications. In the course of a previous activity some promising European resins were identified, but they were not stable when subjected to high electrical fields. Nevertheless, these resins serve as a good starting point for further development. A possible modification of the existing formulations would be the application of nano-additives. The challenge of homogeneity and viscosity tuning necessary for moulding of transformers would need to be overcome. The activity would provide a European-sourced material with a controlled formulation, suitable for applications in electronic power converters and electrical propulsion power supplies. In this activity new resin formulations shall be developed and their suitability for the targeted high-voltage, high-temperature applications demonstrated by testing. The first development stage shall involve screening of candidate formulations. The most promising formulations shall be selected and subjected to long-term, high-voltage accelerated ageing tests to verify their suitability for the intended operating environment.