M4 ENGINEERING, INC. — Department of Defense STTR Phase I: MDA22-T013
M4 ENGINEERING, INC. — STTR Phase I award from Department of Defense.
Phase I STTR feasibility signal
- Phase I awards fund proof-of-concept work. For capture teams, they mark early interest from Department of Defense in a technical approach.
- Watch for Phase II follow-ons from the same firm/topic family — that conversion path is where budgets and transition pressure rise.
- Obligated amount $149,991. Cross-check similar awards in the same agency and technology tags for going-rate context.
- Topic code MDA22-T013 links this award to a solicitation family — search the same topic stem for incumbents and recompete timing.
- Amount
- $149,991
- Agency
- Department of Defense · Missile Defense Agency
- Program / Phase
- STTR · Phase I
- Topic
- MDA22-T013
- Solicitation
- 22.B
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- CA
- Period
- 2022-11-23 → 2023-05-22
Description
The innovation proposed here is a novel carbon-carbon composite (CCC) manufacturing method based on polymer infusion and polymerization (PIP) using a novel precursor polymer with exceptionally high char yields. This results in a material that has the promise of excellent quality and mechanical properties, while offering the breakthrough advantages of (1) greatly reduced or eliminated need for backfill infusions (2) greatly reduced cycle time (3) excellent fiber wetout and microstructure after carbonization (4) ambient-pressure processing (i.e. no isostatic press needed) (5) inexpensive precursor resin. With further development, the technology proposed herein could allow rapid manufacturing of thick carbon-carbon structures. The manufacturing innovations include a precursor resin improvement with the overall goal of reducing manufacturing times of thick laminates from months to weeks. The fast-manufacturing capabilities potentially provided by this strategy must be explored as it is a feasible route to manufacturing a stockpile of TPS materials, in alignment with the DoD’s timeline. Approved for Public Release | 22-MDA-11339 (13 Dec 22)