Thermal Expansion Solutions, Inc. — National Aeronautics and Space Administration SBIR Phase I: S1

Description

This NASA SBIR Phase I project will develop high temperature ALLVAR Alloys to improve the reliability of structures and sensors necessary for NASArsquo;s future planetary body exploration. Different thermal expansion mismatch between materials and components can push sensors out of specification and reduce sensor life after thermal cycling potentially leading to to mission failure. Negative thermal expansion ALLVAR Alloys can compensate for the thermal expansion mismatch between components by shrinking when heated and expanding when cooled; the opposite of other materials. Commercially available ALLVAR Alloy 30 is ideal for athermalizing infrared optics, telescope assemblies, and mechanical fasteners, but it is currently limited to applications below 100 degrees Celsius. New alloy development is necessary to push the maximum operating temperature of ALLVAR Alloys to the higher temperatures experienced on the Moon and Venus. The Phase I development will identify alloys and produce a new cost effective negative thermal expansion alloy for these high temperature environments. A follow-on Phase II will scale manufacturing processes and explore specific sensor athermalizing applications such as metering structures for optics or washers for constant force fasteners.