Novel Composite Pressure Vessel Structures With High Heat Transfer and Fire Resistance Properties Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Topic No.: N101-052 Topic Title: Novel Composite Pressure Vessel Structures With High Heat Transfer and Fire Resistance Properties Proposal No.: N101-052-1107 Firm: Luna Innovations Incorporated 1 Riverside Circle Suite 400 Roanoke, Virginia 24016 Contact: Daniel Peairs Phone: (540) 961-4508 Web Site: www.lunainnovations.com Abstract: The conversion of metal components on high performance vehicles to polymer reinforced composites allows significant weight savings over metal structures. Current battery bottles for deep submersible vehicles have been designed from titanium, which is expensive to produce and has low (relative to metals) thermal conductivity. Luna Innovations Incorporated's experience in developing both fire retardant and thermally conductive composites will allow design of a reduced weight aluminum-lined carbon/epoxy composite replacement for the titanium bottle. Luna will formulate a fire retardant resin system with dispersed additives including carbon/metallic fibers to increase the thermal conductance of carbon composite material to levels equivalent to titanium. Additives will be aligned using low strength magnetic fields perpendicular to the primary reinforcing fiber direction during cure to further improve through-thickness conductance while maintaining a viscosity compatible with filament winding. Weight savings of 25%-50% compared to titanium bottles are anticipated. High fidelity modeling will ensure that the composite design maintains at least the same level of strength and resistance for the unique loading profiles of deep submersible vehicles such as the ASDS. Benefits: Luna's thermally conductive, fire retardant resin system will be applicable to a variety of high performance structures where efficient heat transfer and weight reduction are concerns such as electronics housing and heat exchangers. Additionally, the electric conduction provided by the carbon/metallic additives can allow improvements in EMI shielding of composite structures. The fire retardant properties will increase the level of safety in the event of overheating and permit the material use in other Navy structures where fire performance is critical. Furthermore, in related programs, Luna has shown improved fracture toughness through the inclusion of similar additives in resin systems. Other large industries that will benefit from high strength composites based on materials produced in this SBIR include manufacturers of wind turbines, sporting equipment, automotive components and many others who seek improve the performance and durability of their composite structures. Return