TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Metallized Nanotube Polymer Composite (MNPC) (LAR-TOPS-313)

NASA’s Technology Transfer Program solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses.

THE TECHNOLOGY:

MNPCs are composed of lightweight polymer matrix, superstrong nanotubes (NT), and functional nanoparticle inclusions, offering metallic properties without the associated weight penalty. MNPCs offer structural quality composites with tailor designed properties. MNPCs manage the challenges associated with high-speed, high-altitude flight that is also able to transfer to ground-use cases that require stronger, lighter materials. Unlike MNPCs, other non-metallic composites fail to meet the functional requirements of current metallic options, and may expose an increased risk to health, instruments or structure, not all of which can be mitigated. MNPCs offer both EME protection and structural rigidity without the weight of typical metallic options, and can be applied to various nanotubes and capitalize on those inherit properties.

MNPC is composed of a lightweight, thermally stable and durable polymer matrix, super-strong nanotubes (NT), and infused conductive, metallic nanoparticle inclusions. First, uniformly dispersed nanotube NT polymer composites are prepared, and then additional functional, metallic nanoparticles were incorporated into the nanotube (NT) polymer composites by the supercritical fluid (SCF) carbon dioxide infusion method. The SCF method layers metal nanoparticles onto the dispersed nanotube networks within the NT polymer composites. The layer of SCF introduced metal nanoparticles improves toughness, conductivity, resistance to electromagnetic effects (EME), and radiation shielding to the MNPC composite. Each component of MNPC provides its unique role to develop viable multifunctional materials to protect main structures and their functions from EME. The selected polymer matrix provides weight reduction, thermal stability, and mechanical durability at elevated temperatures. Super-strong nanotube inclusions provide additional mechanical reinforcement and thermal stability to the polymer matrix. Nanotubes (NTs) also decrease the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material to match the reinforcing carbon fibers and any supporting metal frame structures. By selecting optimal metallic infusion salts, electrical and thermal conductivity can be tailored to increase lightning protection or EMI shielding levels and can improve the mechanical toughness of the composites. Electromagnetic interference caused by lightning strikes can be shielded more efficiently by SCF infusion of magnetic metals. Improved thermal and electrical conductivity of MNPC from metal deposited NT improves lightning protection characteristics by conducting excessive current with lower resistance and dissipating the resulting heat effectively. MNPC materials enable a suite of aerospace composites with tailorable properties to create lightweight, durable vehicle structures for environmentally friendly, cost effective, safe flights. Automotive and electronic industries can use MNPC to tailor lightweight EMI shielding materials for future automobile and electronic applications.

To express interest in this opportunity, please submit a license application through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) by visiting https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/LAR-TOPS-313

If you have any questions, please e-mail NASA’s Technology Transfer Program at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this SAM.gov notice and your preferred contact information. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at https://technology.nasa.gov/

These responses are provided to members of NASA’s Technology Transfer Program for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.