Communications of the ACM
Technology in the Extreme
Researchers at Newcastle University's Centre for Extreme Environment Technology have developed radio transmitters that can withstand temperatures of up to 900 degrees Celsius using silicon carbide electronics. The Newcastle team is working to integrate the technology into a device about the size of an iPhone that could be used in a variety of locations, including power plants, aircraft engines, and volcanoes.
"We still have some way to go but using silicon carbide technology we hope to develop a wireless communication system that could accurately collect and transmit chemical data from the very depths of a volcano," says Newcastle's Alton Horsfall. Silicon carbide's unique molecular structure enables it to withstand extremely high temperatures, and it also has a high radiation tolerance.
"The situations we are planning to use our technology in means it's not enough for the electronics to simply withstand extremes of temperature, pressure or radiation—they have to continue operating absolutely accurately and reliably," says Newcastle professor Nick Wright.
From Newcastle University
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