National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Small Business Innovation Research 2001 Program Solicitation
CHAPTER 8.2.3
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8.2.3 Materials and Structures: Materials Development
NASA Installation: Langley Research Center
This Center of Excellence for Materials and Structures targets innovative tools
and revolutionary technologies for radically different materials and design
concepts which can lead to significantly lower operating and manufacturing costs,
increased flight safety, and markedly reduced structural weight in aerospace
vehicles for the new millennium. A leap in traditional technologies currently
available is necessary to enable revolutionary advances in aerospace materials
development. The core technology challenge to support this Center of Excellence
for this solicitation is:
Materials Development
Advanced synthetic materials are typically made by macroscale mixing of the
required reactive components. This top down approach results in some control
of parameters such as the distribution of molecular weights, microstructure
and architecture of the product. However, the manufacture of advanced materials
with mechanical properties and thermo-oxidative stability required for aerospace
applications usually involves the use of hazardous chemicals for which waste
disposal costs are high. In contrast, biological systems fabricate complex,
multifunctional and robust materials, using a few basic components under non-hostile
environmental conditions, to achieve structural control at the nanoscale (less
than 100 nm) level. Biologically inspired methods for manufacture of high performance
materials are sought. Areas of interest include the following:
- Biomimetically Synthesized Materials: Biological systems are capable of
efficiently synthesizing materials for complex functions using very basic
components. The secret is in the means by which hierarchical structural control
is achieved. This mechanism for controlled fabrication at the nanoscale may
be harnessed in revolutionary methods such as self-assembly to produce new
materials suitable for aerospace use. Organic and metallic systems and fabrication
processes that mimic biological structures and functions are sought. Some
applications of interest are stimuli responsive materials for structural applications,
adaptive optics, self-powered, structural components, functionally graded
systems, controlled porosity, selective reinforcement and compositionally
graded alloys.
- Nanostructured Metal Systems: The recent development of novel techniques
has made possible the synthesis of a new class of materials with microstructure
of characteristic dimension less than 100nm (nano-structure metals) and with
potential for vastly improved performance. Work is needed to understand, at
the smallest scale, the fundamental mechanisms controlling behavior of these
new metal systems, and how the processing interacts with microstructure to
determine engineering properties. Some emphasis should be placed on retention
of property-optimized, nano-scale characteristics in bulk material and finished
products.
- Self-Repairing Systems: Self-healing and self-repair are both characteristics
desirable for materials useful in aerospace applications such as inflatable
systems and structural components. Approaches to self-adaptive healing surfaces
with the ability to sense, identify and repair damage are desirable. Various
chemistries and/or design of mechanisms for self-repair in organic and metallic
systems are sought.
- Multifunctional Systems: Multifunctionality may be achieved by the synergistic
relationships in a multi-component system. Revolutionary methods for the fabrication
of organic/inorganic hybrids capable of multiple functions including but not
limited to self-healing, self-repairing, self-sensing, load bearing, and thermal
protection are sought. These materials may be expected to perform in a hostile
space environment, thus requiring atomic oxygen and radiation resistance as
well as long-term durability under conditions that may include severe thermal
cycling. Developments are needed for proof-of-concept demonstrations for unique,
multifunction materials and structures for aerospace applications. Metal systems
typically require surface modifications and/or treatment for protection in
aggressive, high temperature, highly oxidative environments. Approaches are
needed for tailored surface microstructures and coatings for environmental
protection and thermal control on a variety of space transportation vehicles.
Revolutionary approaches are needed for adaptive self-healing surfaces with
the ability to sense, identify and repair damage.
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