Electrically conductive aircraft transparency materials via Innlay surface-embedding Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Topic No.: N102-120 Topic Title: Electrically conductive aircraft transparency materials via Innlay surface-embedding Proposal No.: N102-120-0879 Firm: Innova Dynamics 3624 Market St. Suite 5E Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 Contact: Michael Young Phone: (267) 499-2087 Web Site: http://www.innovadynamics.com Abstract: This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposal to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), Navy, requests funding for Innova Dynamics, Inc. to enable innovative manufacturing of robust, non-delaminating, highly conductive aircraft transparency materials through InnlayT surface-embedding of military-spec polycarbonate and acrylic. The proposal addresses known challenges with existing conductive aircraft transparency technologies, such as the problematic issue of coating delamination, leading to negative optical properties and high repair and replacement costs, as well problems associated with under-performing conductive transparency materials, such as inadequate charge dissipation and inadequate electromagnetic interference shielding. The primary innovation of the current proposal is to use InlayT surface-embedding to develop an inherently conductive aircraft transparency based on currently qualified transparency structural materials wherein the conductive properties are "built-in" through InnlayT as opposed to applied via coatings to overcome the above challenges. Sheet resistance of <25 Ω/□ and transmissivity of >80% are expected, along with optical and mechanical properties meeting appropriate military specifications. Benefits: It is anticipated that upon successful completion of Phase I, the approach of using InnlayT surface-embedding to build-in networks of conductive nanowires into polycarbonate will have demonstrated technically and scientifically that it remains a leading candidate for electrically conductive aircraft transparency materials. Based on pilot data, it is anticipated the Phase I will find success in developing and fabricating polycarbonate and acrylics nanocomposites with "built-in" electrical conductivity exhibiting less than Rs=25 Ω/□ with a transmissivity of greater than 80%, while maintaining the mechanical properties sufficient to qualify to the military material specifications AMS-P-83310 for aircraft transparency systems. It is further anticipated that due the silver nanostructures used, the proposed technology will bring other benefits to such as improved durability and interfacial adhesion, improved resistance against crack propagation, opaqueness to microwave radiation and high conductivity and transparency. Success in this proposal would result in a highly scalable technology that addresses the durability, transparency, conductivity, and other needs of military aircraft transparency materials. Commercialization of this technology would occur via partnerships with the leading manufacturers of aircraft transparency materials for military aircraft. Also, as the manufacturers of these materials for military aircraft also manufacture for commercial aircraft, it is anticipated that the technology would also find use in the similarly sized commercial aircraft market. Return