Spinoff story
Wearout Free
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
Because of on an SBIR contract with NASA, Cornell-Dubilier has been able to commercialize electrolytic capacitors, based on the design of hermetically sealed electrolytic capacitors used by the Marshall Space Flight Center. The NASA contract was for the development of hermetic aluminum electrolytic capacitors, and through which Cornell-Dubilier's Type MLP and Type MLS Flatback Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors have emerged. As opposed to gassing electrolytic capacitors, the development of nongassing electrolytes makes it possible to manufacture hermetic aluminum electrolytic capacitors free of wearout" from electrolytic loss. Tests of the hermetic capacitors designed for NASA demonstrated expected life-spans of more than 20 years"