NASA 1996 SBIR Phase I

PROJECT TITLE : : LOW COST, HIGH PERFORMANCE PROPELLANT AND PRESSURANT TANKS FOR MINIATURIZED SPACECRAFT APPLICATIONS

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS)

Recent development of thin, very high strength electroforms of nickel, copper, and nickel alloys without porosity provide a novel means for producing high performance metallic liners for composite tanks required for spacecraft and satellites. NASA requires small, inexpensive tanks of high re-liability for miniaturized spacecraft. The proposed work affords a ready means for scaling such tanks to any size requirements in a minimal time frame. No thermal joining of components is required. Electroforming provides the means for metallurgically joining fill/drain fittings to the liner during the fabrication operation. Strengthening of the high integrity metallic liner (liquid/gaseous seal) is accomplished by filament winding and curing a high modulus carbon or graphite fiber. The high strengths achievable in very thin nickel based alloys are expected to more than offset the lighter weight of titanium which requires greater thickness to overcome thermal joining requirements. This work will provide enabling technology for improved performance criteria as measured by the pres-sure * volume / weight factor whereby values over 1.5 x 106 are sought.

Many commercial commercial applications of the proposed innovative technology. High strength, light-weight composite propellant and pressurant vessels could be utilized on most commercial satellites where small reactor control systems must be powered up at periodic intervals to correct orbital altitude and attitude with respect to the earth communications stations. This represents a large market with every amount of weight savings directly translating to a savings in launch costs. Other applications would be in aircraft components -- particularly in the area of improving the shock/impact integrity of wing fuel tanks. Rigid fuel transfer lines in aircraft could be lightened while retaining high strength. Diver's air tanks for commercial and sporting applications could be fabricated by this technology to lighten the tank weight so larger capacity tanks could be carried.

Glenn Malone
Electroformed Nickel, Inc.
785 Martin Road
Huntsville, AL 35824

Electroformed Nickel, Inc.
785 Martin Road
Huntsville, AL 35824