Advanced Insulation Materials for Cryogenic Propellant Storage Applications

Advanced Materials Technology, Inc (AMTI) responds to the Topic X9 entitled "Propulsion and Propellant Storage" under subtopic X9.01, "Long Term Cryogenic Propellant Storage, Management, and Acquisition". The proposed program will focus on developing new multifunctional insulation materials that will impact cryogenic systems for space transportation orbit transfer vehicles, space power systems, spaceports, spacesuits, lunar habitation systems, robotics, and in situ propellant systems. These innovative materials will be capable of retaining structural integrity while accommodating large operating temperatures ranging from cryogenic to elevated temperatures conditions. These advanced materials can be incorporated into thermal protection systems (TPS), reducing the amount of TPS and its structure. To meet and exceed the NASA's requirements, we propose to develop multifunctional organic/inorganic nanocomposites foams for structural and insulation applications offering affordable cost, lightweight, and high strength, low thermal conductivity, high thermal stability, and easy processability which will result in improved efficiency and reliability of the cryogenic systems. The approach proposed in this program will provide with more flexibility in designing cryogenic insulators. Once the feasibility of the concept of strong, lightweight cryogenic insulating materials is demonstrated in Phase I, we shall scale-up this concept in a Phase II program to meet the NASA's requirements.