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Heat Flux-Based Calorimeter for Active Thermal Coatings

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA8650-05-C-5045
Agency Tracking Number: F041-147-0096
Amount: $749,953.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF04-147
Solicitation Number: 2004.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2004
Award Year: 2005
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2005-05-09
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2007-09-09
Small Business Information
387 Technology Drive
College Park, MD 20742
United States
DUNS: 837268481
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 John Lawler
 President
 (301) 403-1744
 j.lawler@atec-ahx.com
Business Contact
 John Lawler
Title: President
Phone: (301) 403-1744
Email: j.lawler@atec-ahx.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

We propose to develop a space-ready instrument that can accurately measure the emissivities, absorptivities, and long term stabilities of several passive and active coatings or thermal structures simultaneously. This technique provides a direct measure of the heat flowing through the surface using heat flux sensors, so the performances of the thermal control materials mounted on these sensors are obtained directly. This technique makes the thermal properties and temperature history of the substrate on which the test surface is installed irrelevant to the emissivity/absorptivity measurement, eliminating the need for thermal insulation of the test surface from the rest of structure. This advantage enables our technique to test multiple samples on the same device or the monitoring for spatial variations across a single thermal device. The small size of the sensors will allow the necessary spatial resolution to resolve the performance variation across the active coatings or thermal structures. Our prototype will include the necessary electronics to perform tests and collect data while deployed in orbit. The required tests will be performed to insure the delivery of a space-certified system.

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

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