65264 Many existing and virtually all new construction installations of commercial and residential HVAC duct systems are outside of the conditional building space, and are often outside the building envelope altogether (e.g. rooftop), wasting an enormous amount of energy. Improving insulation… More

65264 Many existing and virtually all new construction installations of commercial and residential HVAC duct systems are outside of the conditional building space, and are often outside the building envelope altogether (e.g. rooftop), wasting an enormous amount of energy. Improving insulation… More

"A significant investment is made each year in the continued development of increasingly robust and sophisticated heating/cooling technologies for future utilization in a ballistic missile technology program or a major defense acquisition program. However,the effectiveness of thermal management… More

"The IHPRPT program has the stated mission of doubling rocket propulsion capabilities by the year 2010. This will require a substantial reduction in vehicle weight, particularly parasitic weight. Weight reduction in the vehicle can directly translate intoadditional payload, at a rate of $10,000 to… More

Current aircraft titanium and polymeric composite materials require thermal barrier coatings to push the material limits and maximize the aircraft mission capabilities. Improvement of the currently used thermal barriers protecting these structures wouldconstitute a major milestone for Air Force.… More

Future generation aircraft demand advancements in performance and multifunctionality in the structures. Areas such as weapons bays, landing gear bays, avionics, etc., require active cooling in order to protect the components from overheating duringoperation. Aspen Aerogels proposes to team with… More

Aspen Aerogels, Inc proposes to develop and demonstrate improved insulation materials for thermal management systems in missile launch and detection platforms such as the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS). The launch weight of the STSS andoperational reliability will be enhanced by… More

Future spacecrafts require greatly improved and lighter reusable cryogenic tank insulation and TPS to achieve the ambitious goal of reducing the cost of delivering a payload to orbit by an order of magnitude. Recently, Aspen Aerogels developed a new class of flexible aerogels called… More

Aspen Aerogels, Inc proposes to develop and demonstrate a revolutionary aerogel-based thermally insulating, shock and vibration isolation material intended for use in aerospace payload and avionics applications. The launch weight of the Common Aero Vehicle(CAV) will be reduced and its operational… More

Aspen Aerogels, Inc proposes to develop and demonstrate a novel Aerogel based multifunctional material with the capability to provide improved shipboard damage control (blast mitigation and fire containment), as well as the ability to provide enhancedthermal insulation and IR signature reduction. … More

NASA is seeking innovative thermal insulation materials for extravehicular activity (EVA) systems that improve performance in low ambient pressure, reduce cost and weight, and increase durability and human comfort. Aspen Aerogels Inc. (AAI) proposes to demonstrate an organic rubber based aerogel… More

Spacecraft design parameters limit and trade off volume, mass, power usage, and cost to maximize system performance. One example of this necessary tradeoff is the design of the rectangular cold volume enclosures. The solution will have to be thin walled to maximize usable volume, an excellent… More

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project focuses on producing novel cellulosic aerogels insulation materials for new construction. This project will focus on producing ultra-lightweight cellulose aerogels with exceptional high thermal insulation and mechanical performance. In the… More

The US Air Force seeks to developg new materials and technologies to reduce the cost of space flight. The IHPRPT program has the stated mission of doubling rocket propulsion capabilities by the year 2010. Incremental system design and fabrication cost improvements will not be sufficient to achieve… More

Insulation systems are needed to protect external aircraft structures from the high temperatures generated by engine exhaust gases. Currently, a typical thermal protection system for aircraft applications involves bonding ceramic tiles onto the aircraft. The bonded ceramic tiles are completely… More

Future generation aircraft demand advancements in performance and multi-functionality in the structures. Areas such as weapons bays, landing gear bays, and avionics require active cooling in order to protect the components from overheating during operation. Aspen Aerogels proposes to team with… More

Aspen Aerogels is developing low-density, flexible aerogel composites to satisfy the thermal and mechanical insulation requirements for weight-sensitive launch vehicles or space based platforms. Efficient, low areal density protection to key structures and optical components from excessive solar… More

Aspen Aerogels, Inc plans to demonstrate an aerogel-based thermally insulating, shock and vibration isolation material intended for use in aerospace payload and avionics applications. The launch weight of the Common Aero Vehicle (CAV) will be reduced, payload volume capacity increased and its… More

The project will investigate and develop a seamless vacuum insulated box (VIB) technology based on Aspen?s unique polymeric/silica aerogel alloy blanket technology. This new blanket material is ideally suited for VIP and VIB use with low density, high compression modulus, low thermal conductivity,… More

Today, the Navy, and all of our nation's defense are faced with the unconventional threat of terrorist or other asymmetric attacks. As such, a unique system combining fire resistance, blast mitigation, and energy absorption for Navy surface ships will be developed and demonstrated. The proposed… More

Polyurethane and polybutadiene rubber aerogel composite materials are being developed for thermal insulation and radiation shielding materials for extravehicular activity (EVA) systems. The new flexible, resilient aerogel composite materials will offer significant system design and performance… More

The Air Force has an interest in new designs and new materials for TPS of hypersonic reentry vehicles. Military hypersonic vehicles will reenter the atmosphere according to trajectories that are more aggressive than that of the Space Shuttle Orbiter and expected to be able to maneuver in the… More

Aspen Aerogels (AAI) proposes to develop low-cost, lightweight nanostructured poly-DCPD based aerogel composites for aerospace, military, and commercial insulation applications. Alone, the poly-dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) exhibits exceptional properties, including room temperature curable fast… More

NASA?s Next Generation Launch Vehicle Technology Program has an interest in robust TPS materials with the highest level of thermal performance at the lowest possible areal weight. The materials need to be oxidatively stable and insensitive to water vapor, and able to perform with a minimum of… More

The transfusion of red cells far forward from the FSTs will enhance medical treatment and increase the survivability of wounded soldiers before evacuation. The use of a lighter and more efficient container than the currently approved Collins box will enable soldiers to carry one PRBC unit and store… More

Rapidly deployable shelters for military use demand high performance materials that can withstand extreme requirements. In order to advance the performance of these systems, the Army must improve the thermal insulation layer that is often included in the shelters. Aspen Aerogels, Inc. (AAI)… More

Aspen Aerogels, Inc. (AAI) proposes the development of silica aerogel-based, flexible, insulation systems for Army shelters as a direct replacement for the current multi-layer, cloth-based insulation blankets. The superior thermal resistance of aerogel materials will provide an insulation system… More

NASA?s In-Flight Propulsion Program is investigating aerocapture as a rapid, highly efficient method for insertion of probes into long-duration scientific orbits. Aerocapture, an aggressive braking maneuver intended to achieve a scientific orbit directly (?capture?) from a hyperbolic approach… More

Advanced materials are required to insulate cryogenic storage and distribution systems for liquid propellants such as hydrogen and oxygen, used in orbital transfer and interplanetary missions. Development of cost effective, robust cryogenic insulation systems that operate at soft vacuum level… More

75351-Aerogels, with their low refractive index and reasonably high light transmission, would be highly desirable Cherenkov detectors in high-energy particle detection. Unfortunately, when aerogels are used as Cherenkov radiators, there are some disadvantages: medium to low light transmission in… More

NASA seeks new and innovative technologies for materials, processes, and manufacturing that will provide safe, reliable, lightweight, and less expensive launch vehicle and spacecraft components. The proposed project will develop aerogel insulation materials for composite cryotanks and TPS.… More

High noise levels on aircraft carriers from onboard flight operations impart tremendous implications, including miscommunication during combat and training, reduced crew combat effectiveness from stress and fatigue, and medical expenses from hearing damage. To mitigate the cost and safety… More

The Air Force has an interest in new designs and new materials for TPS of hypersonic reentry vehicles. Military hypersonic vehicles will reenter the atmosphere according to trajectories that are more aggressive than that of the Space Shuttle Orbiter and expected to be able to maneuver in the… More

Aspen Aerogels was the first to develop a low-cost, lightweight, nanostructure poly-dicyclopentadiene (poly-DCPD) aerogel material. These materials have low thermal conductivity, low density, minimal particulate shedding and are a low cost material, making them ideally suitable for aerospace and… More

Organically modified silica (Ormosil) aerogel beads developed at Aspen Aerogels, Inc. offer several advantages for retrofitting perlite insulation in NASA's ground tanks storing liquid hydrogen and oxygen. Through both Phase I and internal R&D efforts, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and… More

75351S Aerogels, with their low refractive index and reasonably high light transmission, would be highly desirable Cherenkov detectors in high-energy particle detection. Unfortunately, when aerogels are used as Cherenkov radiators, there are some disadvantages: medium to low light transmission in… More

NASA seeks new and innovative technologies for materials, processes, and manufacturing that will provide safe, reliable, lightweight, and less expensive launch vehicle and spacecraft components. The proposed project SBIR Phase II project will develop aerogel insulation materials for composite… More

The innovation addressed in this proposal is an aerogel-based thermal barrier.. Applied with a proprietary process to the nose tip and leading edges of the control surfaces, this ultra-thin barrier can provide enough thermal resistance to blunt the severe temperature spike due to aero-thermal… More

The Department of Defense has identified the need to develop aerogel-based Chemical/Biological (CB) protective fabrics with good moisture vapor transmission for use in garment and collective protection systems. Aspen Aerogels proposes to develop aerogel-coated fabrics as a novel protection material… More

The objectives of this proposal are to identify and develop breakthrough technologies that have potential to provide increased scientific return at lower cost, and to enable missions and capabilities beyond current horizons. Advanced thermal materials are needed as thermal protection system (TPS)… More

NASA strives to make space travel safer, faster, and cheaper, expanding our horizons for a new generation of space exploration and colonization. This cannot be accomplished solely through improvements in the launch vehicle; the launch site and ground control systems must be equally enhanced. The… More

One of NASA's primary goals for the next decade is the design, development and launch of a spacecraft aimed at the in-situ exploration of the deep atmosphere and surface of Venus. The success of this mis-sion, called VISE (Venus In-Situ Explorer), is reliant on the development of effective thermal… More

The innovation addressed in this proposal is Sprayable Thermal Insulation for Cryogenic Tanks, or STICT. This novel system could be applied in either an automated or manual spraying process, with much less sensitivity to process chemistry and environmental parameters than cur-rent spray-on foam… More

NASA is seeking a high performance thermal insulation material for cryogenic applications in space launch development. Many of the components in cryogenic distribution systems at the launch site can be complex and require an insulation that can be formed to irregular shapes to minimize heat leak.… More

NASA has expressed a need to identify and develop breakthrough technologies that have potential to provide increased scientific return at lower cost, and to enable missions and capabilities beyond current horizons. To make these missions feasible, advanced thermal materials are needed as thermal… More

The USMC has the need for improved military issue sleeping bag systems that reduce the weight to 7.22 lbs and pack volume to 1040 cubic inches. To achieve these significant improvements will require a bottom up redesign of the sleeping bag and evaluation of all components of the system. Finding a… More

This project will develop highly-insulating, compressive-resistant, adhesive-backed thermal insulation materials, suitable for installation in building construction locations that cannot use existing insulation materials. This compressive resistant material will be used to increase insulating… More

One of NASA's primary goals for the next decade is the design, development and launch of a spacecraft aimed at the in-situ exploration of the deep atmosphere and surface of Venus. The success of this mission, called VISE (Venus In-Situ Explorer), is reliant on the development of effective thermal… More

Aspen Aerogels Inc. (AAI) and the Man Vehicle Laboratory (MVL) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology propose to develop nanostructured, lightweight, rubbery aerogel composites for multifunctional insulation materials which will significantly improve advanced extravehicular activity (EVA)… More

The Exploration Systems architecture presents some propulsion challenges that require new technologies to be developed. To solve these challenges, NASA needs new technologies for long term cryogenic propellant storage, management and acquisition applications in-space as well as on the lunar… More

The Sprayable Thermal Insulation for Cryogenic Tanks (STICT) is a thermal management system applied by either an automated or manual spraying process with less sensitivity to process chemistry and environmental parameters than current spray-on foam insulations (SOFI) like BX-265, while providing… More

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop nanostructured, flexible, inorganic-organic hybrid aerogel composite insulation materials. The proposed material will combine the typical advantages of organic polymers with the advantages of inorganic aerogels, exhibiting… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Aspen System's long-term objective is to develop, optimize, and commercialize a high performance personal cooling system designed to safely protect workers in military, government, commercial and industrial occupations from heat stress and heat-related illness… More

A diver's ability to perform dexterity work is greatly diminished in long duration missions if his hands are cold. Research has demonstrated that protecting a diver's torso, arms, and legs in cold water diving without simultaneously providing adequate thermal protection to the hands proves futile… More

The push to hypersonic flight regimes requires novel materials that are lightweight as well as thermally and structurally efficient for airframes and thermal protection systems to increase safety and decrease system weight. The materials required must maintain their performance throughout the… More

In 2005, President George W. Bush issued a Vision for Space Exploration that included a return to the lunar surface by as early as 2015. This mission is expected to undertake far more ambitious activities than those of the previous Apollo mission, possibly involving medium to long term lunar… More

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating aerogels into thermoelectric devices to improve their efficiency and lifetime. The proposed work will develop and evaluate aerogel-filled thermoelectric generators for converting waste… More

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating cost-effective, LNG-compatible, fiber-reinforced aerogel insulation that is mechanically strong while retaining the unique highly insulating properties of aerogels . Perlite and PUF have a number… More

The exploration of space requires that new technologies be developed for long-term cryogenic propellant storage applications in-space, on the lunar surface, and on the Earth. The Altair ascent stage requires LO2 and LCH4 storage durations of up to 14 days in LEO and up to an additional 210 days on… More

The overall objective of the Phase II project is to develop lightweight reinforced aerogel materials for use as the core structural insulation material in multifunctional thermal protection systems for next generation hypersonic vehicles. During this Phase II SBIR project, we will build on the… More

Energy-efficient cryogenic insulation is an imperative requirement for the future of space travel. In order to advance the space program, NASA must find cost effective solutions to store and disperse propellants at cryogenic temperatures. The true cost for an insulation material depends upon the… More

Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) is the most commonly used thermal insulation material for spacecraft applications due to its low thermal conductivity in vacuum. However, MLI has several problems including thermal shorts, is labor intensive to fabricate and install and its performance is negatively… More

Aspen Systems proposes to develop a small mobile personal cooling system that can be worn conveniently by individuals with heat-related disabilities.  The need for such an assistive technology is significant among this group in the United States, having the potential to impact more than one… More

Refrigeration, air conditioning, and other cooling requirements in the buildings, industry, and transportation sectors account for about 10 quads of U.S. primary energy consumption. Since the efficiency of the best Vapor Compression Cycle (VCC) systems may be approaching asymptotic values; the… More

The future of the NASA space program includes longer and more invasive missions into space, with a goal to return to the moon's surface by the year 2015. Long duration storage of large quantities of cryogenic fluids for propulsion, power, and life-support is an essential requirement for these… More

The exploration of space requires that new technologies be developed for long-term cryogenic propellant storage applications in-space, on the lunar surface, and on the Earth. The Altair (Lunar Lander) ascent stage requires LO2 and LCH4 storage durations of up to 14 days in LEO and up to an… More

Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) is the most commonly used thermal insulation material for spacecraft applications due to its low thermal conductivity in vacuum. However, MLI has several problems including thermal shorts, is labor intensive to fabricate and install and its performance is negatively… More

Base camps require reduction in heat signature to maintain low-observable capabilities. Both warfighters and sustainment forces within the base camps generate characteristic heat signatures that can reveal the location, presence of personnel and electronic equipment, and may provide some indication… More

This SBIR Phase I project will develop an aerogel separation medium for removal of both oily residues and dissolved organics from wastewaters. Flexible blankets will cover the surface of the wastewater and will follow a conventional separation step for removal of colloidal and dissolved organics. … More

During the Phase I program, Aspen Aerogels developed a passive thermal protection solution for diver hands based on a new, low dusting formulation of aerogel insulation. Building on the successful material development accomplished during Phase I, the Phase II work will optimize and scale up the… More

Aerogels with low refractive index and high light transmittance are highly desirable for Cherenkov detectors. However, quality and scale of the manufactured aerogels have been the main challenge for scientists working in this field. Aspen Aerogels will develop a fabrication process to advance the… More

The world

The Navy is developing several superconducting systems for use in future ships and submarines to reduce system weight, energy usage, and installed volume. These systems, such as degaussing and power distribution systems rely on superconducting wires housed in a flexible cryostat to pass current and… More

ABSTRACT: The Department of Defense is actively pursuing the capability to assemble and launch a satellite within days, or even hours, of a battlefield commander"s notification for anticipated needs and within several months to no more than a year for unanticipated needs. The thermal control… More

Energy conservation in buildings and structures can be improved by utilizing high performance aerogel insulation and Phase Change Materials (PCM) in concert. Aerogel insulation has a high R-value per inch and can be cost effectively installed in existing buildings with minimal impact and disruption.… More