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Disruptive fibers and textiles for flexible protec

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Army
Contract: W911QX-10-C-0025
Agency Tracking Number: A092-053-0584
Amount: $70,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: A09-053
Solicitation Number: 2009.2
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2009
Award Year: 2009
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2009-12-21
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2010-06-20
Small Business Information
9063 Bee Caves Road
Austin, TX 78733
United States
DUNS: 625120902
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 George Hansen
 Principal Investigator
 (512) 263-2101
 ghansen@tri-austin.com
Business Contact
 Monte Fellingham
Title: Contracts Administrator
Phone: (512) 263-2101
Email: mfellingham@tri-austin.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Development of ballistic grade fiber beyond aramid has not sufficiently evolved to achieve the performance requirements necessary for future personnel protection needs. New polymer fibers such as Zylon and M5 have shown promise, but long-term aging and difficulties in manufacturing respectively have hindered their realization. Researchers in this area have long known that incorporation of hydrogen bonding species along the polymer backbone could increase cohesive energy density and hence fiber mechanical properties. TRI/Austin proposes the development of a new organic fiber chemistry that will provide a high level of hydrogen bonding and crystallinity, cohesive energy density, and mechanical properties. The proposed fiber material, having bi-dentate hydrogen bonding, will exhibit properties superior to the aramids, which only have monodentate hydrogen bonds. The manufacturing process is expected to be significantly more cost effective than currently available high performance fibers. Based on the numerous monomers available for this proposed polymer technology, the long-term result is conceivably an entire family of related high strength polymer products. During Phase I TRI/Austin will model the effects of variations in monomer compositions on final polymer properties. These results will be used to downselect one polymer for fabrication of fiber for determination of mechanical properties.

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

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