You are here

High Temperature Polymer Nanocomposites for Cryogenic Fuel Tanks

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NAS1-02037
Agency Tracking Number: 012997
Amount: $70,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2002
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
200 Turnpike Road
Chelmsford, MA 01824
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Bryan Koene
 Principal Investigator
 (978) 250-4200
 bkoene@tritonsys.com
Business Contact
 Ross Haghighat
Title: CEO
Phone: (978) 250-4200
Email: ross-h@tritonsys.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Triton Systems responds to the NASA need to produce new and unique lightweight high use temperature polymer materials with inherently high gas barrier, strength, and thermal stability. These multifunctional materials will enable the use of composite materials to replace metallic cryogenic fuel tanks for the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV). We will combine our extensive background in layered silicate nanocomposite technology with that of high use temperature polymers based on phenyl ethynyl imide (PEI) as well as Triton proprietary chemistries to achieve this goal. The incorporation of nanostructured silicate platelets into these polymer matrices will result in materials that will have superior gas barrier (i.e. hydrogen, oxygen). Further, the use of nanocomposites will achieve increased strength and decreased coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), which will result in the elimination of microcracking observed during thermal cycling of conventional composite materials. The use of minute quantities of our patented nanosilicates will ensure that these polymers can be processed by standard molding techniques (RTM). During Phase I we will synthesize and evaluate the physical properties of several polyimide-based nanocomposite materials. For Phase II we will optimize these properties, and scale up the synthesis to fabricate a prototype composite prepared by RTM.

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

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government