Porous TiNi Metal Shock Resistant Track Shoes

Shape Change Technologies LLC is proposing to develop a Superelastic TiNi based porous metals and foams as a shock damping mechanism in tanks. Experiments in Cavitation-erosion have similar shock characteristics to the signature for 1/2 lb of C4 detonatingunder a tank track. TiNi has demonstrated superior damping in Cavitation-Erosion experiments. SCT will develop techniques to manufacture TiNi in a variety of porosities with a near-net shape of a tank track shoe, in order to verify optimal damping and structural properties of the shoe. Primary attritubutes of the new tank shoe would be a lightweight, quickly resettable, non-magnetic, non-corroding armor which is relatively fascile to manufacture. Light weight armoring is key to a variety of commericial marketplaces, including aviation cargo containers, oil and gas isolation tanks, protectivearchitectural panels for buildings (embassies, military and federal installations etc.)In addition porous materials are being similarily developed as bio-medicla implant materials by SCT and others, although there are key differences with repect to processing, annd material related issues such as pore size, and probably manufacturingtechnique. However, it is likely that strong alternative markets will be available for this material technology.