High Emissivity Surface Micro-Structuring

This NASA SBIR Phase II proposal presents a novel method to achieve high emissivity, with a femtosecond (fs) fiber laser. It is the enabling technology for manufacturing high temperature, high strength, and high emissivity metal and ceramic surfaces for electric propulsion components. With our successful history in laser processing, this proposal has a great potential to succeed. A proof of concept demonstration has been carried out and samples were delivered at the end of Phase I. Prototypes with various types of components in compliant with the NASA electric propulsion system requirement will be delivered at the end of Phase II.

In addition to NASA’s Hall thruster component fabrication, the proposed short pulse high power fiber laser 3D manufacturing approach can also be used in other applications, such as rocket, aircraft, and satellite manufacturing. Esp. it will find great potential in BN and SiC large area manufacturing for NASA’s deep space missions, such as Hall thruster program, NTP, PCOS, COR, HabEx, and LUVOIR programs. PolarOnyx will develop a series of products to meet various requirements for NASA/military deployments.

Material processing, such as lithography, inspection, defect analysis and repair, and micromachining of all types of materials including plastic, metals, and ceramics. 3D printing ($44B market) uses various technologies for building the products for all kinds of applications from foods, toys to rockets and cars. Medical devices and biomedical instrumentation.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.