Polymer Liners for Lightweight Gel Propulsion Storage Tanks

MicroPhase Coatings, Inc. (MPCI) proposes to develop polymer liners for lightweight gel propulsion storage tanks under SBIR Phase II Topic A02-144. Polymer liners provide lightweight, long term, safe storage of Inhibited Red Fuming Nitric Acid (IRFNA) geland Mono Methyl Hydrazine (MMH) gel used in missile and space propulsion systems. The Phase II effort produces prototype gel propulsion tanks that will demonstrate technical viability of the approach, including throttleability, safety, long term storage,and operational suitability for a wide range of programs. Technical objectives include: final selection of materials that include fluorinated polymers with layers of plasma, metal, and wet chemistry deposition, definition of a pressure vessel usingBonded-Rolling-Diaphragm (BRD); fabrication of liners within filament-wound composite pressure vessels, burst and stress testing, manufacture of vessels, expulsion tests and demonstrations, and definition of manufacturing processes for efficiency,affordability, and quality. MPCI leads a team including Northrop Grumman Space Systems, North Carolina State University, 4th State, and SAIC/ERC. The team brings a vast array of sophisticated testing and analysis systems that are integrated via acomprehensive and detailed plan.Phase II yields a prototype system that proves the viability of specially treated polymer liners in a bonded-rolling-diaphragm configuration. The prototype enables repeated demonstrations of the technology. Demonstrationsallow program managers of NASA and all DOD components to assess the value of gel-fuel propulsion for multiple programs. Prototype demonstrations also serve as a development tool for designing gel-propulsion subsystems in a variety of configurations andapplications. The ultimate benefit is lighter weight, throttleable propulsion systems with multiple-fold increase in range-speed envelopes, and operational modes. Potential applications include: NLOS, Common Missile Block I, High Energy Laser, PrecisionAttack Munition, Loiter Attack Munition, Kinetic Energy Interceptor, and NASA( Mars Accent Vehicle). Our commercialization approach is two-fold: (a) continue teaming relationship with Northrop Grumman for multiple missile propulsion systems, and (b)acquire the manufacturing capability (primarily molding and deposition) to produce complete subsystems with high quality and responsiveness to new requirements. We also market polymer liners, which are extremely durable and resistant to the most corrosiveacids, to petro-chemical and other industries for cost-effective storage of chemicals.