99--TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY NOVEL AROMATIC AND ALIPHATIC DIAMINES FORADVANCED POLYMER APPLICATIONS

NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses. THE TECHNOLOGY: Scientists at NASA Langley Research Center have developed a class of novel diamines for epoxy resins that possess both aromatic and aliphatic characteristics. These molecules have been shown useful in two different areas. First, the diamines have been demonstrated to aid in the dispersion of carbon nanotubes into polymer matrices. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) have countless applications, but their utilization has been somewhat impeded due to their inability to interface with polymers and due to the bundling of the tubes. The diamine molecules enable SWNT to be dispersed in a polymer and inhibit nanotubes bundling. Secondly, composite materials containing the diamines possess the ability to provide both structural and radiation-shielding functions. Because the diamines are both aliphatic and aromatic, they are endowed with the dual properties of high hydrogen content and high strength, which are particularly well suited to radiation-shielding applications. Aromatic/aliphatic diamines are incorporated into structural epoxy formulations in a traditional cross-linked network. Within the diamine molecules, the aliphatic region is covalently bonded to the aromatic region in a pendant fashion at the carbon bridge. Consequently, the aliphatic region does not take part in the cross-linking molecular network and gives the molecules their unique properties. In SWNT composite applications, the aliphatic groups help to minimize the van der Waals interaction between neighboring nanotubes and prevent bundling. In radiation-shielding applications, these aliphatic groups provide the high hydrogen content necessary for a shield application to be effective at screening against heavy ion radiation. However, the addition of the aromatic moieties renders the molecules stronger than other high hydrogen content polymers such as polyethylene, which lack the stiffness to perform as shielding and structural materials. The unique properties of these molecules also make them likely candidates for many potential applications. To express interest in this opportunity, please respond to contact@example.gov with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this FBO notice and your preferred contact information. Please also provide the nature of your interest in the technology along with a brief background of your company. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at http://technology.nasa.gov/ . These responses are provided to members of NASA Langleys Office of Strategic Analysis and Business Development OSACB for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. If direct licensing interest results from this posting, OSACB will follow the required formal licensing process of posting in the Federal Register. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.