Advanced Materials for Submarine Antenna Radomes Navy SBIR FY2007.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2007.1 Topic No.: N07-104 Topic Title: Advanced Materials for Submarine Antenna Radomes Proposal No.: N071-104-0442 Firm: NanoSonic, Inc. P.O. Box 618 Christiansburg, Virginia 24068 Contact: M. Berg Phone: (540) 953-1785 Web Site: http://www.nanosonic.com Abstract: This proposed SBIR program would develop low loss, structural, high performance polymer matrix nanocomposites with controlled permittivity for radome applications. A radome's function is to protect the antenna, modify the impact of the antenna on the hydrodynamics, and the radar cross-section of the mast. However, its impact on the electromagnetic function of the enclosed antenna in free space must be minimized. To meet this challenge, NanoSonic will fabricate and characterize conformal, high performance, low loss polymer matrix nanocomposites with controlled permittivity. With the electrical and mechanical requirements, NanoSonic would build-in advantageous environment material properties. The result is a highly integrated radome panel designed as not only an electromagnetic solution but also as a materials solution with a low-cost, highly reliable, manufacturable product. NanoSonic is uniquely qualified as a small company to construct these materials. Our staff consists of innovative chemical engineers, polymer and inorganic chemists holding advanced degrees, and as engineers with experience in microwave antenna engineering and high frequency materials testing. Our laboratory is fully equipped for polymer and nanoparticle synthesis and has fabrication capabilities to create prototype structures, and our microwave testing equipment includes the capabilities for making in-house measurements for permittivity. Benefits: The proposed materials and processing methods will result in thermoplastics with tailored permeability and permittivity that will significantly benefit both military and civilian applications, most specifically in communication devices. For the military, commercial applications include conformal antennas for large area composite films, and wide bandwidth, small footprint antennas. Dual use potential exists for multiple consumer applications, most notably for improved wireless communications through higher efficiency wireless data transfer between small wireless devices and communication towers. Such applications include cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), global positioning systems (GPS), and other similar handheld devices. Return