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A Water Vapor Trap for Measuring Cumulative Humidity Exposure

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: N68335-12-C-0043
Agency Tracking Number: N112-087-0705
Amount: $149,927.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N112-087
Solicitation Number: 2011.2
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2011
Award Year: 2012
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2011-10-13
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
P.O. Box 71
Hanover, NH -
United States
DUNS: 072021041
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Michael Jaeger
 Principal Investigator
 (603) 643-3800
 mdj@creare.com
Business Contact
 James Barry
Title: President
Phone: (603) 643-3800
Email: contractsmgr@creare.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

The advanced properties achieved by modern ceramic matrix composite (CMC) structures depend critically on the surface condition of reinforcement materials used in the manufacturing process. Contamination of reinforcement surfaces can result in brittle phases, low melting point eutectics, or foreign compounds at the critical interface between the reinforcement material and the ceramic matrix, which can compromise the composite"s strength and/or chemical resistance. Such effects have been attributed to cumulative water vapor contamination of silicon carbide (SiC) fiber reinforcement fabrics used in SiC/SiC CMCs, such as those used in modern high temperature aircraft propulsion systems. Creare proposes to develop a passive sensor of cumulative humidity exposure to assist manufacturers with monitoring water vapor contamination of CMC reinforcement materials. The low-cost sensors will travel with individual ceramic fiber fabric rolls or containers of humidity sensitive material during shipping, storage, and handling, and can be read nondestructively by a handheld sensor reader whenever the humidity exposure history needs to be checked. In this Phase I project, Creare will develop prototype sensor components and demonstrate their basic functionality for measuring cumulative humidity exposure. In a future Phase II program, we will finalize the sensor designs, fabricate prototype sensors, and demonstrate them in laboratory experiments.

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

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