Lightweight, Corrosion Resistant Valve Materials

The main objective will be to improve the reliability and reduce the overall system weight for the numerous currently pneumatically actuated flight qualified valves used by the Airborne Laser (ABL) program. Important steps in successfully achieving the main objective will be UDC’S formulation, fabrication and evaluation of lightweight and chemical resistant composites that can easily be fabricated into valve components as improved substitutes for the current steel and aluminum components. UDC will conduct testing to demonstrate the feasibility of the concept. At the end of Phase I, UDC will provide a report with results and conclusions, and a Phase II plan, schedule and cost estimate.