Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA 94550

A -- HIGH PERFORMANCE FILM CAPACITORS (HPFILM) SOL 99013 DUE 040999 POC Not Applicable Lawrence Livermore Seeks Industrial Partners to Commercialize High Performance Film Capacitors (HPFilm) The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is operated by the University of California under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). LLNL is seeking collaborators in the commercialization and further development of high performance film capacitors. Film capacitors, both metalized film and metal-foil/film capacitors, are devices that typically operate in the regime of 100 V to greater than 100 kV. Such devices are frequently found in most types of electrical equipment requiring significant energy storage or filtering. Common industrial applications include power quality control in AC electric power distribution systems, DC power supplies, motor drive controllers, fluorescent lighting ballasts, industrial lasers, materials processing, and water/air purification. Common medical applications include x-ray equipment, laser systems, cardiac defibrillators, lithotripters, and electrosurgical tools. The present technology of metalized film and metal-foil/film capacitors is limited by breakdown due to electric field stress enhancement. Scientists at the LLNL have devised methods to improve the performance of film capacitors, using readily applied modifications to traditional manufacturing techniques. Using these methods, it should be possible to significantly increase the average electric stress in dielectric films, resulting in greater energy storage density without increasing size or sacrificing reliability. Initial laboratory tests suggest that greater than a factor of two increase in average electric field stress levels could be achieved. By increasing the energy density in film capacitors improved with this technology, manufacturers may produce devices with increased overall performance. The increased performance may be traded off between higher working voltage, higher power ratings, decreased volume or footprint, and higher reliability. Collaborators are sought with technical and scientific expertise in the areas of metalized film and metal-foil/film capacitors and capacitor manufacturing. Successful collaborators will have an established history of manufacturing and marketing capacitors in volume, and will have a consistent record of research and development, experience, and expertise in capacitor technologies and applications. A successful collaboration would include a corporate commitment for resources and funding to this project. While it is likely that successful collaborators would be for profit businesses, successful collaborations may also include state, federal, or local governmental agencies, or universities. Mechanisms for collaborations may include licensing, work for others, or Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs). Any non-licensing collaboration must include a significant funds-in component to LLNL for the development of pre-production prototypes to be successfully considered. LLNL has core scientific and intellectual property background, including patent applications, on this project. Additional information regarding High Performance Film Capacitors may be obtained at http://www.llnl.gov/IPandC/Technology/techno-license.html To ensure consideration, interested parties must respond in writing to LLNL by April 9, 1999 and provide the following information: (1) the name and address of your organization, (2) the name, address, telephone number, and fax number of a point of contact, (3) the business, product, and financial history of your organization, (4) a description of your organization's expertise and facilities in the areas of film capacitors, (5) the organizational history of research and development funding, and (6) the resources your organization could commit to this project. Statements of interest should be sent to: Industrial Partnerships and Commercialization Office Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory P.O. Box 808, L-795 Livermore, CA 94551 Attention: HPFilm This is not a procurement. Posted 03/10/99 (W-SN307187). (0069)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0017 19990312\A-0017.SOL)