High Toughness Light Weight Pressure Vessel, Phase I

Proposed is a pressure vessel with 25% better Fracture Strength over equal strength designed Fiberglass to help reduce 10 to 25% weight for aerospace use. Phase I is a proof-of-concept to make a 4? diameter x 24? long cylindrical vessel. Phase II will make 12? or larger diameter x 48? long vessels. The vessel will be used to store compressed gases and liquids for aerospace applications where impact damage is a possibility. A pressure vessel has openings for nozzles etc. Fracture toughness (KIC ) and strength are both used to design a safe vessel which would meet leak-before-fail and other conditions. In the proposed innovation high toughness 580 KSI (4000 MPa) steel wires woven in net shape will be used. Wire counts are proportional to transverse and longitudinal stresses and a polymer covers the net. The ends are uniquely overlapped to preserve maximum strength. Cost is substantially low.

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.