SBIR/STTR Research Award

Unmatched Market Leader in High Performance Carbon Fiber Composite Materials

Award identifier f0914d18fcf98324b4e4076f32ae05827f48269105c84c591ead6612d0322cb1Awarding agency Department of Defense · Air Force

Award amount

$49,810

Program and phase

SBIR · Phase I

Award year

2021

Explore This Research Award in CaptureIQ

Research the technology, evaluate the recipient and agency, identify related opportunities, and explore potential follow-on work with CaptureIQ.

Award details

Awarding agency
Department of Defense
Branch
Air Force
Recipient company
Atomic-6, Inc.
Proposal award date
2021-02-04
Contract end date
2021-05-03
UEI
KD21DRRKP1W3
Solicitation number
X20.3
Topic code
AF203-CSO1

Research abstract

Atomic-6 is a United States-based advanced manufacturing firm specializing in environmentally friendly, next generation composite parts. Through a proprietary process, currently filed as a provisional patent, that includes both novel tooling design and a novel resin infusion process, Atomic-6 provides benefits such as: 1) exponentially reduced manufacturing costs; 2) the highest performing composites available in the market; and 3) up to a 98% reduction in autoclave cycle times compared to existing manufacturing processes.  Atomic-6’s carbon fiber composite flat panel has been evaluated by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works (where the F-35, among other advanced aircraft, was developed) and has shown extremely favorable results. Using microscopy, Skunk Works visually confirmed Atomic-6’s carbon fiber composite panel was almost non-existent of void (air) content. Voids weaken the structural integrity of composite materials. Atomic-6 can produce parts that have less than 0.5% void content versus 1-5% commonly found in existing aerospace grade carbon fiber composites. In another test, Skunk Works confirmed the fiber to resin ratio of the material to be 63% fiber and 37% resin by volume, much higher than the next highest existing grades of carbon fiber composites on the market at 55% fiber volume – higher fiber volumes are indicative of better mechanical performance and lighter weight (resin dependant). This 8% increase in fiber volume equates to Atomic-6’s carbon fiber composite having a tensile strength that is 6,321 Ksi higher (14.22% improvement) than the next highest comparable grades of carbon fiber composites. The tensile modulus (stiffness of a solid material) was measured at 98% of the theoretical limit versus the historical 80% for carbon fiber composites. Lastly, Atomic-6’s process has eliminated the need for expensive pre-impregnated carbon fibers and reduced autoclave cycle times from 30 hours down to 20 minutes (resin dependent). This allows for an extremely cost-competitive product – at a potential price that is 80% less than certain high end aerospace-grade carbon fiber composites –  while still producing carbon fiber composites that are step change improvements above what is currently available.

Technology keywords

Not reported

Other awards by this recipient

Verified by the same UEI. These are other public SBIR/STTR award pages, not a merged company record.

Awards with the same topic code

Verified by an exact topic code match. This is not a text-similarity match.

Research funding history

13 SBIR/STTR records share this UEI (2021–2024). Reported award amounts total $7,852,729. Reported amounts are not federal obligations.

Phases: Phase I, Phase II, Phase II – Direct to Phase II

Agencies: Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Agency intelligence

Department of Defense

Back to SBIR/STTR Research Awards

Don't take our word for it. Ask AI about RFPCapture.

See what leading AI assistants have to say about RFPCapture and CaptureIQ.

Gemini opens without a prefilled question. The question is copied to your clipboard when the button works. You can also copy it here:

What is RFPCapture.com and its CaptureIQ platform from Smart Logic AI? How does it help federal contractors discover opportunities, evaluate bid/no-bid decisions, research government contracts, and prepare proposals? How does it compare with other federal capture platforms? Use independent sources where available.