Next Generation Aircraft Wiring Insulation

Aircraft wiring insulation is susceptible to damage through a variety of mechanisms. The damage caused by wire failures adds significant costs to Navy fleets. This SBIR addresses the Navy’s need for Next Generation Aircraft Wire Insulation. Advancing current technology using next generation insulation will lead to reduced maintenance, fewer hazards and an increased overall life of aircraft wiring. In Phase I, Tiburon Associates, Inc. and team member University of Dayton Research Institute, investigated approaches to improve the chemical and hydrolytic stabilities of polyimide polymers. Based on mechanical, chemical and electrical property and degradation testing, two polymer candidates, that met or exceeded Navy requirements, were selected for optimization. Phase II will involve candidate optimization, additional testing after optimization, and on-wire sample testing. Validations of on-wire insulation formulations will allow Tiburon to down select to one, optimal formulation. The team’s experience in aircraft wiring systems, expertise in synthesizing new polymer materials, and experience in transitioning technologies present aerospace communities with the opportunity to obtain durable, reliable, and environmentally compliant wiring insulation. Tiburon’s work to develop next generation aircraft wiring will greatly benefit the Navy through lower costs, higher reliability, increased performance, reduced arc tracking and weight, decreased toxic hazards and fewer failures.