Project Summary
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Proposal Number:95-1-0 4-3200
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Project Title:Liquid Oxygen Compatible Coatings for Reusable Composite Cryogenic Tanks
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Small Business Concern:
Foster-Miller, Inc.
350 Second Avenue
Waltham, MA 02154-1196
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Research Institution:
Drexel University
Center for the Plasma Processing of Materials
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Principal Investigator/Project Manager: Marvin Guiles
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Technical Abstract:
The development of reusable launch vehicles will make access to
space more affordable. To
make these reusable vehicles feasible, however, structural weight must
be reduced while safety and
reliability must remain at a high level. A primary concern, therefore,
is the safety and reliability of the
large liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen tanks. Recent
development in toughened cryogenic
epoxies may make composite fabrication of the hydrogen tanks possible,
but composite fabrication of the
liquid oxygen tanks is still hampered due to the potential LOX
incompatibility of the composite resins and
the cost and weight of suitable liners. In response to this problem,
Foster–Miller proposes to demonstrate
an emerging technology for coating the inside of a large composite
structure with a thin, LOX compatible
polymer. NASA–MSFC has verified the LOX compatibility of the leading
candidate polymers in Foster–
Miller's cryotank liner system. Spray coating processes will be
inexpensive, and the weight of the thin
(~0.004 in.) coating will be minimal. During the proposed Phase I
program, we will evaluate leading
candidate polymers using state–of–the–art coating technologies,
selecting one process and one polymer for
further development in Phase II. Successful demonstration of this
technology will enable the composite
fabrication of reusable liquid oxygen tanks resulting in substantial
weight savings.
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Potential Commercial Applications:
The potential commercial applications of the proposed technology
are extensive. The aerospace
industry will benefit from the protective polymer coatings for aircraft
and spacecraft, and thermal
management coatings will reduce the load on spacecraft thermal control
systems. The technology will
find use in the private sector in automotive fuel tanks, and corrosion
resistant coatings for transportation
vehicles and structures.
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