Firm:

          

TDA Research, Inc.

          

   

Address:

          

12345 West 52nd Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

          

   

Phone:

          

(303) 422-7819                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Name:

          

Dr. Michael D. Diener Ph.D.

          

   

E-mail:

          

mikee@tda.com

          

   

Address:

          

12345 West 52nd Avenue, CO 80033 - 1916

          

   

Phone:

          

(303) 261-1154                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Name:

          

Mr. John Wright

          

   

E-mail:

          

krhodus@tda.com

          

   

Address:

          

12345 West 52nd Avenue, CO 80033 - 1916

          

   

Phone:

          

(303) 940-2300                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) :                                                                                                                                                          
Begin: 3
End: 5

          

          

     

Technical Abstract (Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200 words):

Carbon-carbon composites (C/C) are currently used as hot structures in a variety of extreme environments encountered during rocket launch, hypersonic flight, and atmospheric entry, descent and landing. Their use is limited by their expensive and time-consuming manufacturing process. Delivery times of over six months from order placement are common, a result of the long manufacturing process and the limited number of suppliers. Building on our demonstrated expertise in carbon manufacturing and commercialization, in this Phase II project we will develop manufacturing capability for a novel resin so that C/C composites can be made in days to weeks, instead of months. This resin has the potential to eliminate multiple densification cycles, yet result in composites with equivalent mechanical and thermal properties to the current state-of-the-art. With the domestic need for C/C parts increasing, TDA believes that there is a currently an outstanding opportunity to enter the C/C manufacturing market. TDA has a demonstrated history of manufacturing resins with high char yields, and we propose to build on that experience to economically manufacture resins that have been demonstrated to produce strong chars in exceptionally high yield.

          

          

     

Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words):

The proposed resin system will be used for rapid manufacturing of high quality C/C hot structures. Our initial target application will be lightweight nozzle extensions for in-space propulsion systems, Lunar/Mars ascent/descent vehicles, and upper stage rocket engines. Subsequent applications may include nuclear thermal rockets, hot gas valves and hypersonic combustors/aeroshells. TDA’s process will shorten development and procurement schedules, thereby providing substantial cost savings to all programs that utilize our C/C.

          

          

     

Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words):

Several DoD agencies, including the Air Force, Navy, Army, and Missile Defense Agency (MDA) would benefit from improved C/C manufacturing for their launch and hypersonic vehicle programs, which make extensive use of C/C hot structures as acreage panels and in the combustor. C/C parts are also of interest to gas turbine manufacturers like General Electric.

          

          

     

Duration:     24