You are here

Composite Advanced Polymers for Low Moisture and Oxygen Permeability

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNJ04JC17C
Agency Tracking Number: 035184
Amount: $70,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: B3.04
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2003
Award Year: 2004
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2004-01-16
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2004-07-19
Small Business Information
3850 Research Park Drive Suite A
Ann Arbor, MI 48108-2240
United States
DUNS: 804705101
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: Yes
Principal Investigator
 John Miller
 Principal Investigator
 (734) 213-1637
 jmiller@tjtechnologies.com
Business Contact
 Maria Thompson
Title: President & CEO
Phone: (734) 213-1637
Email: mthompson@tjtechnologies.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I program addresses NASA?s need for long duration shelf stable food by developing a high oxygen/moisture barrier polymer system with good optical quality and extended durability for food packaging. At the present time, processable polymers with good optical quality have only intermediate barrier properties, e.g., Nylon-6 and Polyester. Several groups have successfully reduced their moisture and oxygen transmission rates to 30% of their initial values by adding surface treated clays and/or oxygen scavengers, but the transmission rates are still too high. In this program, T/J Technologies will dramatically improve the barrier properties of transparent polymers by tailoring the processing and microstructure of nanocomposite systems. Specifically, we propose to achieve lower transmission rates using a combination of a high barrier polymer, a range of selected additives that can be oriented to reduce gas and vapor permeation, and solution based processing to improve additive dispersion and the ability to orient the additive. We anticipate the resulting materials will show >50% enhancement in oxygen and moisture barrier properties when compared to existing barrier polymer systems.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government