SBIR 95-1 SOLICITATION

PROJECT SUMMARY

Proposal Number:

04.06-6868

Project Title:

LIGHTWEIGHT, DIMENSIONALLY STABLE, POLYMER-CERAMIC COMPOSITES FOR SPACE SYSTEMS & COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS

Technical Abstract:

Materials performance criteria are highly demanding for the space airframe structures, spacecrafts, small satellites and its associated subsystems such as optical components. One of the most critical requirement is near zero coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and low density. Materials such as Invar or Zerodur have several limitations such as small temperature range over which the CTE is low, higher density and limited machinability. C-C composites, despite of their superior properties, do not have low enough cost to benefit ratio. A relatively unexplored family of materials called NZP ceramics (NaZr2P3O12 and its isostructural analogs such as CaZr4P6O24) provides compositions with near zero (and if needed, negative) CTE (<0.5 ppm/C), low thermal expansion anisotropy, and good machinability. Combining such NZP ceramics with NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) developed polymer called LaRC-SI, can yield a superior composite that has near zero CTE, low density, machinability and high toughness. LoTEC, Inc. proposes to develop new, ultra-low thermal expansion, light weight NZP Ceramics - LaRC SI polymer (NCLS) microcomposites for space airframe structures and associated subsystems. Development of such microcomposites are expected to lead to commercially viable components such as optical benches, lens holders and optical metering rods.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The potential applications of high toughness, near zero CTE, lightweight NCLS microcomposites encompass optics, dimensionally stable airframes, metering rods, housings for spectroscopic instrumentation and others. The specific optical applications include diode lens mounts, lightweight mirrors and telescope components. Some of the commercial applications include dimensional gages, substrates for high density data storage systems, reflective and confocal mirrors for halogen lamps, optical benches.

Name and Address of Offeror:

LoTEC, Inc.; Low Thermal Expansion Ceramics Company
1840 West Parkway Boulevard
West Valley City, UT 84119