Briefs: Materials
Polymer-based composite catholyte structures have been investigated in a continuing effort to increase the charge/ discharge capacities of solid-state lithium thin-film...
Briefs: Materials
Organic/Inorganic Polymeric Composites for Heat-Transfer Reduction
Organic/inorganic polymeric composite materials have been invented with significant reduction in heat-transfer properties. Measured decreases of 20–50 percent in thermal conductivity versus that of the unmodified polymer matrix have been attained. These novel composite...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Gold-on-Polymer-Based Sensing Films for Detection of Organic and Inorganic Analytes in the Air
A document discusses gold-on-polymer as one of the novel sensor types developed for part of the sensor development task. Standard polymer- carbon composite sensors used in the JPL Electronic Nose (ENose) have been modified by evaporating 15 nm of...
Briefs: Materials
A family of polymer/ carbon films has been developed for use as sensory films in electronic noses for detecting SO2 gas at concentrations as low as 1 part per million...
Briefs: Materials
Molecules for Fluorescence Detection of Specific Chemicals
A family of fluorescent dye molecules has been developed for use in "on-off" fluorescence detection of specific chemicals. By themselves, these molecules do not fluoresce. However, when exposed to certain chemical analytes in liquid or vapor forms, they do fluoresce (see figure). These...
Briefs: Materials
Composite truss structures are being developed that can be compacted for stowage and later deploy themselves to full size and shape. In the target applications, these "smart" structures...
Briefs: Materials
Workers at NASA Ames Research center are endeavoring to develop durable, oxidation- resistant, foam thermal protection systems (TPSs) that would be suitable for covering large exterior...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Lithium tetrakis(trifluoro- methanesulfonato) gallate [abbreviated “LiGa(OTf)4” (wherein “OTf” signifies trifluoro- methanesulfonate)] has been found to be promising as...
Briefs: Materials
A process for hydroxide-assisted bonding has been developed as a means of joining optical components made of ultra-low-expansion (ULE) glass, while maintaining sufficiently precise...
Briefs: Medical
Further improvements have recently been made in the development of the devices described in “Improved Ion-Channel Biosensors” (NPO-30710), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 28, No. 10...
Briefs: Materials
An alternative to the conventional approach to synthesis of polyimides involves the use of single monomers that are amenable to photopolymerization. Heretofore, the synthesis of polyimides has involved...
Articles: Manufacturing & Prototyping
MPK Co.
Champlin, MN
A patent-pending light source material, Litroenergy™ contains self-luminous micro...
Briefs: Medical
A nanotube array based on vertically aligned nanotubes or carbon nanofibers has been invented for use in localized electrical stimulation and recording of electrical responses in...
Eye on Innovation: Electronics & Computers
Founder and CTO
Proto Labs, Inc.
Maple Plain, MN
Proto Labs is a quick-response custom manufacturer that provides design engineers with prototypes of...
Application Briefs: Motion Control
Custom inserts solve reel torque problems
As a leading supplier of fishing equipment and accessories, Penn Fishing Tackle Manufacturing Co. provides customers with high-quality, competitively priced, cutting edge products that meet the highest possible industry standards.
Briefs: Materials
Sequestration of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in a Polymer
Sequestration of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNs) in a suitably chosen polymer is under investigation as a means of promoting the dissolution of the nanotubes into epoxies. The purpose of this investigation is to make it possible to utilize SWCNs as the reinforcing fibers in...
Briefs: Materials
Strong, Lightweight, Porous Materials
A new class of strong, lightweight, porous materials has been invented as an outgrowth of an effort to develop reinforced silica aerogels. The new material, called X-Aerogel is less hygroscopic, but no less porous and of similar density to the corresponding unmodified aerogels. However, the property that...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
A relatively simple and economical process and apparatus for concentrating hydrogen peroxide from aqueous solution at the point of use have been invented. The need for this or a similar invention arises for the...
Briefs: Medical
A process has been developed for the rapid tissue engineering of multicellular- tissue-equivalent assemblies by the controlled enzymatic degradation of...
Briefs: Materials
Improved C/SiC Ceramic Composites Made Using PIP
Improved carbon-fiber- reinforced SiC ceramic-matrix composite (C/SiC CMC) materials, suitable for fabrication of thick-section structural components, are producible by use of a combination of raw materials and processing conditions different from such combinations used in the prior art. In...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Composite Pulse Tube
A modification of the design of the pulse tube in a pulse-tube cryocooler reduces axial thermal conductance while preserving radial thermal conductance. It is desirable to minimize axial thermal conductance in the pulse-tube wall to minimize leakage of heat between the warm and cold ends of the pulse tube. At the same time,...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Nanocomposite Photoelectrochemical Cells
Improved, solid-state photoelectrochemical cells for converting solar radiation to electricity have been proposed. (In general, photoelectrochemical cells convert incident light to electricity through electrochemical reactions.) It is predicted that in comparison with state-of-the-art photoelectrochemical...
Briefs: Materials
Photocatalytic/ magnetic composite particles have been invented as improved means of exploiting established methods of photocatalysis for removal of chemical and biological pollutants from air and...
Briefs: Materials
Norbornene-based polymers have shown promise as solid electrolytes for lithium-based rechargeable electrochemical cells. These polymers are characterized as single-ion conductors.
Briefs: Materials
Poly-4 -vinylpyridinebisulfate (P4VPBS) is a polymeric salt that has shown promise as a water-free proton-conducting material (solid electrolyte) suitable for use in membrane/electrode...
Briefs: Materials
Radiation-Shielding Polymer/Soil Composites
It has been proposed to fabricate polymer/soil composites primarily from extraterrestrial resources, using relatively lowenergy processes, with the original intended application being that habitat structures constructed from such composites would have sufficient structural integrity and also provide...
Briefs: Materials
In experiments conducted as part of a continuing effort to incorporate multifunctionality into advanced composite materials, blends of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and a resin denoted...
Briefs: Materials
The term "secondary polymer layered impregnated tile" ("SPLIT") denotes a type of ablative composite-material thermal- insulation tiles having engineered, spatially non-uniform...
Briefs: Materials
Ion-conducting polymers that are hybrids of organic and inorganic moieties and that are suitable for forming into solid electrolyte membranes have been invented in an effort to improve upon the...
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