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First Principles Identification of New Aircraft Materials
Completed
TRL 3 (started at 3, targeting 3)
Description
The identification of new, structurally sound, thermally stable materials for aviation applications will enable a wide range of technologies. The identification of new materials is hindered by the lack of information about compositions outside the existing composition space. New materials and new methodologies for selection of these materials are essential. Eltron will develop a correlational/theoretical approach to materials selection that follows its previous work in the selection of cathode electrocatalysts, oxygen evolving anodes for high temperature melts, solid electrolytes, and mixed ion/electron conducting materials. This approach will allow the exploration of composition properties space by the use of existing data. Phase I will develop and demonstrate a model for selection of new materials and confirm predictions by synthesizing new materials.
Benefits
Stakeholders in this technology will be aviation companies, fuel cell companies, scientific software companies, and customers of these companies as well as DoD. Potential customers include the aforementioned companies. The resulting materials technology would compete with existing metal alloys and composite materials.
There are opportunities for developing both new materials and a software package for prediction of new material structures and their properties. Eltron's previous activity has established a groundwork for development of such a package.
Details
| Technology area | Materials, Structures, Mechanical Systems, and Manufacturing > Materials > Computational Materials |
| Program | Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer (SBIR/STTR) |
| Lead organization | Eltron Research & Development, Inc., Boulder, CO |
| Start date | 2011-02-18 |
| End date | 2011-09-29 |
Project contacts
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How to get involved
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
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