NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA solicits interest from companiesinterested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market thefollowing technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basisand may include specific fields of use. THE TECHNOLOGY: A new technique developed by NASA enables the preparation of metal/composite hybridlaminates, also known as fibermetal laminates (FML), through a one-step processingmethod. Currently FMLs are prepared by a compression process using a press or autoclavewith metallic layers sandwiched between layers of glass or graphite prepreg(preimpregnated fibers with a matrix resin). NASAs process essentially eliminates theneed to produce prepreg prior to the production of a hybrid laminate. It also allows theproduction of large, net shape structures that were previously not possible withautoclave or press technologies due to size constraints. Essentially, it involves aninfusion process whereby matrix resin transversely infiltrates fiber layers that havebeen sandwiched between plies of metal foil containing flow pathways to produce ametal/composite hybrid laminate. The infiltration can be accomplished using pressure(resin transfer molding [RTM]), or a vacuum induced pressure differential (vacuumassisted resin transfer molding [VARTM]).The FMLs resulting from the NASA process have similar properties to traditionallyproduced metal/composite hybrid laminates including, as compared to either the compositeor metal only structures, improved load carrying capability, lighter weight, improvedstiffness, improved impact resistance and damage tolerance, and improved permeationresistance. The NASA process can be applied to various FML types, including GLARE (glass,aluminum, epoxy), and TIGR (titanium, graphite). Typical manufacturing processes arecostly and complex shapes are hard to produce, whereby the NASA process enables use ofthese kinds of laminates without an autoclave or press, thus increasing the size that canbe produced and decreasing the cost.The resin pathways in the foils enable connection between the plies that can improve theinterlaminar strength of the final part. Functionally the NASA process creates resincolumns in the transverse direction of the plies. NASA is working to optimize the finalproperties by varying the size and distribution of the pathways.To express interest in this opportunity, please respond to Sean Sullivan at: NASA LangleyResearch Center, 17 West Taylor St., Mail Stop 218, Building 1212, Room 110 Hampton,Virginia, E-mail:
[email protected], or phone: 757-864-5055. Please indicate thedate and title of the FBO notice and include your company and contact information.Contracting Office Address: NASA Langley Research Center17 West Taylor Street, Mail Stop 218Building 1212, Room 110Hampton, VA 23689-2199Primary Point of Contact: Sean SullivanNASA Langley Research
[email protected]: 757-864-5055