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An Innovative Integrated Chemical and Environmental Sensor for Health Monitoring of Double-Base Propellants

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: N68335-11-C-0328
Agency Tracking Number: N111-010-0848
Amount: $79,993.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N111-010
Solicitation Number: 2011.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2011
Award Year: 2011
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2011-04-25
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
1 Riverside Circle Suite 400
Roanoke, VA -
United States
DUNS: 627132913
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 John Beck
 Principal Investigator
 (540) 961-4506
 beckb@lunainnovations.com
Business Contact
 Elizabeth Gaudin
Title: Senior Contracts Administ
Phone: (540) 577-5881
Email: submissions302@lunainnovations.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

Double base propellants such as those used in the Navy"s Cartridge Actuated Devices (CAD) and Propellant Actuated Devices (PAD) are succeptible to degradation via nitrate ester thermolysis. Typical formulations have stabilizing compounds that can retard this degradation however they are consumed over time, and it has been recently discovered that stabilizer depletion is dramatically increased by elevated temperatures. To prevent thermal runaway, cook-off and spontaneous combustion events it is necessary to have an effective method for measuring, recording and reporting the stabilizer concentration levels in CADs. Luna Innovations has combined its expertise in optical physics and propellant chemistry to develop a fiber optic sensor solution capable of real-time stabilizer concentration monitoring. The proposed solution will be low cost, lightweight, compact and will have minimal effect on the operational function of the CAD"s once implemented.

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

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