USA flag logo/image

An Official Website of the United States Government

Carbon based aerogel composites for radiation shielding

Award Information

Agency:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 		Branch:
N/A 		Award ID:
63267 		Program Year/Program:
2003 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
024428 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
ADVANCED CERAMICS RESEARCH, INC.
3292 E. Hemisphere Loop Tucson, AZ 85706
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2003
Title: Carbon based aerogel composites for radiation shielding
Agency: NASA
Contract: NAS1-03029
Award Amount: $69,829.00
 

Abstract:

In this phase I SBIR program, Advanced Ceramics Research, Inc. (ACR) proposes the development of an innovative, co-curing fabrication process for composite structures with a carbon based aerogel material encapsulated by a polyethylene based composite for radiation shielding applications. The proposed technique will leverage the ACR?s experience with co-injecting highly viscous ceramic slurries into fibrous preforms. The carbon based aerogel material will be fabricated into a panel and encapsulated by polyethylene using a elevated temperature RTM technique currently used to fabricate fiber reinforced multi-resin systems. The feasibility of the approach will be demonstrated using a carbon fiber reinforced aerogel encapsulated with fiber-reinforced polyethylene. The advantage is that the radiation shielding panels will also act as a thermally insulating material and therefore, will be a multifunctional material. Co-injection will permit the fabrication of multi-layer structures that do not have to be individually laminated; hence, it is possible to fabricate high performance radiation shielding panels that would be impossible to build using conventional methods. Additionally, the fabrication process is flexible to allow the use of optimal and hybrid fiber tows and architectures necessitated by the component design requirements.

Principal Investigator:

Ranji Vaidyanathan
Principal Investigator
5204346392
r.vaidyanathan@acrtucson.com

Business Contact:

Ranji Vaidyanathan
Business Official
5204346392
r.vaidyanathan@acrtucson.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

Advanced Ceramics Research, Inc.
3932 E Hemisphere Loop Tucson, AZ 85706

EIN/Tax ID: 860640868
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No