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(Shape Memory Integrated Vital Energy Resource) SHIVER-Suit for SOF Divers
Title: VP of Business Development
Phone: (540) 953-1785
Email: jlalli@nanosonic.com
Title: Contracts Administrator
Phone: (540) 953-1785
Email: llawson@nanosonic.com
NanoSonic would develop ultra-lightweight (0.98 g/cc), breathable, nanostructured, yet large area Metal Rubber™ Skins and Textiles with active thermal control. The proposed SHIVER-Suits (Shape Memory Integrated Vital Energy Resource) for U.S. Special Operation Forces are expected to extend both the comfort and time of the Divers’ missions. Shape Memory-Metal Rubber™ garments based on shape memory polymers (SMP) and Ag nanoparticles resulting in antimicrobial garments capable of insulating and cooling on demand. SHIVER-suit textiles are not a filled composite, rather a free standing “unfilled” nanocomposite formed in-situ by the conformal and covalent self-assembly of nanostructured particles and high performance copolymers onto high performance textile substrates. Unlike air and water impermeable crosslinked butyl rubber, Shape Memory-Metal Rubber™ would breathe at elevated temperatures, allowing perspiration to permeate on land. SHIVER-suit’s nanopores close in response to winter maritime conditions, proving extended insulation. The garment’s low-end glass transition temperature is < -65ºC (flexible in ice water), is impermeable to harsh solvents, can be repeatedly stretched > 1000% strain, and laundered without delamination or loss of performance. The TRL of durable, comfortable SHIVER-suits shall be increased to TRL 6 during Phase I, and TRL 9 during Phase III when demonstrated by our U.S. SOF divers. BENEFITS: NanoSonic shall develop and qualify lightweight and breathable, SHIVER-Suits (Shape Memory Integrated Vital Energy Resource) for U.S. Special Operation Forces to increase the comfort and extend the time of the Divers’ missions in harsh subambient conditions. The comfortable garments would allow for comfort on land or undersea via active thermally controlled nanopores. NanoSonic’s novel, high performance SMP Metal Rubber™ with chemically tailored nanochannels with active breathability would also serve military and civilian responders to chemical warfare areas. The garments will be scaled up and delivered to SOCOM and our defense prime partners for durability and thermal performance verification to increase the technology readiness level (TRL) from TRL 4 to 6 during Phase I. Down-selected garments will be transitioned to a continuous roll-to-roll film fabrication process to increase the TRL to 8 during Phase II and transitioned to the field during Phase III at TRL 9.
* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *