NEWARK, Del. (November 7, 2018) — W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. (Gore) is proud to announce that Chemours™ has awarded Gore the Global Plunkett Grand Prize for outstanding use of fluoropolymers for the company’s GORE™ High Temperature Capacitors. With lead applications in the oilfield services and aerospace industries, Gore capacitors enable stable electronics performance in the harshest environments.

The Plunkett Awards are named after the discoverer of fluoropolymers, American chemist Dr. Roy J. Plunkett. The awards recognize Chemours customers’ drive to develop solutions to complex problems through the use of chemistry. This high-temperature capacitor now joins Gore’s ten previous Plunkett Award winners over the last 30 years.

Powering Downhole Tool Reliability

Gore capacitors help oilfield service companies complete missions reliably, including those in demanding downhole environments. Unlike traditional high-temperature capacitors such as multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) or wet tantalum, Gore’s capacitors do not exhibit a catastrophic failure mode when subjected to shock and vibration. With unique self-clearing, high-temperature film technology, Gore’s capacitors can perform accurately in applications up to 200°C, reducing downhole tool failures and enabling predictive maintenance, allowing users to exchange capacitors without interrupting crucial operations.

Robert Haywood, Business Development Leader said, “Gore’s innovation enables a film dielectric, known for reliability, to be used in a temperature range not previously possible, resulting in less risk of tool failure and reduced operating costs.” Greg Hannon, Gore Technical Leader, said of the Plunkett award, “To earn this recognition during our 60^th anniversary as an Enterprise and 80 years after the discovery of PTFE is particularly special.”

Expanding into Aerospace

In addition to its applications in oilfield services, Gore is also working with companies in the aerospace industry to qualify its capacitors in support of aircraft designs that are shifting away from hydraulic and pneumatic systems in favor of a More Electric Aircraft (MEA) model. Example aerospace applications include electrical generators, fuel pumps, flight control actuators, landing gear, and braking systems. The Gore capacitors’ high-temperature capability allows designers to increase system power while reducing (or, in some cases, even eliminating) the need for costly and large, heavy cooling systems. David Slupe, Innovation Leader, said, “Gore is excited to be part of future MEA programs and to support the industry in its goal of reducing aircraft CO₂ and NOx emissions.”

For more information about GORE™ High Temperature Capacitors for oil and gas downhole tools, visit gore.com/capacitors or contact a Gore applications specialist at capacitors@wlgore.com.

From uses in airplanes, automobiles, and consumer electronics to components in life-saving medical equipment and the U.S. military, fluoropolymers have provided material solutions for manufacturers globally for the last 80 years. These awards recognize advancements in products and applications across the Chemours fluoropolymer portfolio, including Teflon™ fluoropolymers, coatings, fabric protector, and additives; Krytox™ lubricants and Viton™ fluoroelastomers; and Nafion™ ion exchange materials. Entrants are evaluated for the innovation and value of products, technologies, and applications enabled by Chemours portfolio of fluoropolymers.

Gore develops products and technologies that address complex product and process challenges in a variety of markets and industries, including aerospace, automotive, pharmaceutical, mobile electronics, oil and gas — and more. Through close collaboration with industry leaders across the globe, Gore enables customers to design their products and processes to be safer, cleaner, more productive, reliable, durable and efficient across a wide range of demanding environments.

W. L. Gore & Associates is a global materials science company dedicated to transforming industries and improving lives. Founded in 1958, Gore has built a reputation for solving complex technical challenges in the most demanding environments — from revolutionizing the outerwear industry with GORE-TEX® fabric to creating medical devices that improve and save lives to enabling new levels of performance in the aerospace, pharmaceutical and mobile electronics markets, among other industries. The company is also known for its strong, team-oriented culture and global recognition from the Great Place to Work® Institute. Headquartered in Newark, Del., Gore employs 9,500 Associates and generates annual revenues of $3.5 billion. www.gore.com.

Macrovision on behalf of Gore
Bill Maurer
+1 215 348 1010
Contact by email

GORE, GORE-TEX, and designs are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates.
Chemours™ is a trademark or registered trademark of The Chemours Company.