OPTOWARES INC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N212-115

Description

The Navy seeks a novel additive fiber reinforced composite repair system for aircraft. In this program, Optowares Inc., in collaboration with Professor Amir Asadi at Texas A&M University, proposes to develop a new portable multifunctional 3D printed composite repair system that return part strength to original value through the automated deposition of thermosetting epoxy polymer and nanoadditives-coated continuous carbon fiber reinforcements (CFR) composites. The team proposes to integrate non-destructive 3D damage detector and the conventional grinding tool into the robotic arm-based 3D printer to form the portable multifunctional 3D printing system. The proposed novel nanoadditives-coated continuous CFR epoxy composite repair system will demonstrate higher fiber volume contents, higher mechanical properties at drying and wet conditions, lower curing temperature and faster curing times, and a wet Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) of higher than 110°C. Also, the resultant composite repair system will offer the combination of fast repairing period, minimum operating persons, and low porosity content as well as the well-balanced nanoadditives-coated continuous CF and thermosetting polymer composite properties. During Phase I, we will demonstrate the feasibility of the development of our proposed portable multifunctional 3D printer and nanoadditives-coated continuous CFR epoxy composite repair system to fully satisfy the Navy requirements.