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Completed TRL 2 (started at 1, targeting 2)
This proposed activity is focused on the development of cyclic-olefin-copolymer aerogels imbedded with wavelength scattering particles for tunable IR filtering applications. Aerogels are a unique class of nanoporous materials with superior insulating properties Research at GRC with collaboration from GSFC, has led to the development of IR-blocking aerogel materials for applications in the sub-millimeter and far-IR wavelengths. Currently available aerogel materials are limited to use at wavelengths longer than approximately 30 μm, due to strong absorption bands in the mid-IR. A promising class of materials, cyclicolefin copolymers (COCs), exhibit an absence of absorption lines throughout the mid-IR, to wavelengths as low as 14 μm, and low moisture absorption rate. Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) aerogels combine the characteristic properties of aerogels; high specific surface area, low density, low dielectric, high porosity, thermal impedance, with the IR transparency, low birefringence, and mechanical robustness of cyclic olefin polymers. This project will investigate the feasiblity of creating an IR-transparent aerogel based on COCs with diamond scattering particles to extend the reach of this technology into the mid-IR.
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