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Composites of Fiber-Reinforced Ultra Thin Films for X-ray Applications

Award Information

Agency:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 		Branch:
N/A 		Award ID:
51780 		Program Year/Program:
2001 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
NASA907 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Luxel Corporation
515 Tucker Avenue Friday Harbor, WA 98250-8040
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2001
Title: Composites of Fiber-Reinforced Ultra Thin Films for X-ray Applications
Agency: NASA
Contract: N/A
Award Amount: $69,984.00
 

Abstract:

Metalized polyimide films have become a standard for soft x-ray filters due to polyimide¿s strength and thermal stability. Utilization of polyimide support has led to increasingly larger and thinner filters, and throughput on missions such as the Chandra X-ray Observatory has been increased significantly. Newer missions such as Constellation-X require higher transmission across a large range of energies. To achieve greater transmission, next generation filters must look to even more advanced materials. The proposed innovation is to reinforce ultra-thin polyimide with extremely high strength materials such as Kevlar (polyaramid) or carbon fibers, to create a robust composite filter. At low x-ray energies (< 600 eV), the reinforcing fiber structure will have significantly higher transmission than the often-required metal mesh which it would replace. At higher energies above 3 keV, the Kevlar or carbon reinforcement will be nearly invisible, and improvements in mission throughput will be even more significant. In all cases it is expected that the increase in transmittance will be 10% or greater. The goal of this Phase I effort will be to show the feasibility of producing these types of composite materials for use in future x-ray astronomy missions and other Astrophysical Observing Systems

Principal Investigator:

Heidi 1. Lopez
Senior Research Scientist
3603784137
luxel@pacificrim.net

Business Contact:

Daniel L. Wittkopp
Business Manager
3603784137
luxel@pacificrim.net
Small Business Information at Submission:

Luxel Corporation
P.O. Box 1879 Friday Harbor, WA 98250

EIN/Tax ID:
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No