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Nanostructured High Temperature Optical Filters for Protection of Spectroscopic Instrumentation

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NAS13-02029
Agency Tracking Number: 00079
Amount: $499,999.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2002
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
PO Box 618
Christiansburg, VA 24068
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Kristie Cooper
 (540) 953-1785
Business Contact
 Richard Claus
Title: President
Phone: (540) 953-1785
Email: roclaus@nanosonic.com
Research Institution
 Virginia Tech
 David Richardson
 
460 Turner Street, Suite 306, MC 0170
Blacksburg, VA 24060
United States

 (540) 231-8680
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

The objective of the proposed STTR program is to develop and demonstrate robust, high temperature optical low-pass filters that may be formed directly on the windows of spectroscopic instrumentation used for rocket engine analysis. This work would solve the existing problem of excessive thermal loading of spectroscopic systems typically used to analyze rocket engine performance. Very high temperature metallic oxide nanocluster thin films with heat-blocking low-pass optical filtering functions and graded coefficients of thermal expansion would be formed by molecular-level electrostatic self-assembly processes demonstrated by Virginia Tech. This nanoscale self-assembly process inherently leads to the formation of low-defect structures, and the precise ability to achieve graded material properties in functional thin film coatings. During Phase II, NanoSonic would work with Virginia Tech to design, synthesize and demonstrate the optical, mechanical and thermal properties of these coatings on representative instrument window material substrates. Thermal performance of the optical filter coatings to temperatures as high as 1400 C are anticipated based on prior Virginia Tech research. A technology demonstrator test article will be fabricated and evaluated in cooperation with a major U.S. aerospace contractor.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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