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Ames
Research Center
1992 Phase II
Processing
Technology for Lyotropic Polymers
Foster-Miller,
Inc.
Waltham, MA
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INNOVATION
Development of a new extrusion die
process for lyotropic polymers and innovative post extrusion processes
to produce very high stiffness light-weight liquid crystal polymer materials
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Venusian Balloon
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- The work funded by this SBIR
contract and several other SBIR contracts funded by DoD particpants
enabled Foster-Miller to develop the processing technology for making
films and tubes from lyotropic ordered polymers such as polphenylene
benzobisoxazole (PBO) for various scientific and industrial applications
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COMMERCIALIZATION
- Based on the SBIR
results, Foster-Miller received $1.5M from Dow Chemical Company
in license fees and material support for PBO film processing technology
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GOVERNMENT/SCIENCE
APPLICATIONS
- The Department of Energy awarded
Foster-Miller a contract for $800K to develop a high temperature
membrane for fuel cells
- JPL has awarded an SBIR contract
to Foster-Miller to construct a balloon constructed of PBO to carry
instruments to explore the surface of Venus. PBO is the only
polymer that has the required strength and high temperature
resistance to survive the Venusian atmosphere
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For more
information about this firm, please send e-mail to company
representative
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