LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: Luna Innovations Incorporated is developing methods to improve interlaminar shear strength

LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED — SBIR Phase II award from Department of Defense.

Amount
$749,993
Agency
Department of Defense · Navy
Program / Phase
SBIR · Phase II
Solicitation
2009.3
NAICS
Place of performance
VA
Period
2011-04-05 → 2014-05-04

Description

Luna Innovations Incorporated is developing methods to improve interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of glass fiber/epoxy composites. By incorporating vapor grown carbon fiber (VGCF) into the system, the composite matrix material is strengthened and additional reinforcement in the out-of-plane (Z direction) of the composite is possible. In the Phase I effort, Luna produced results showing a significant increase in the ILSS of three different composite systems produced from prepreg material with a VGCF film approach over systems without VGCF. The results indicated that it is possible to increase the ILSS of a system without a decrease in in-plane properties. These initial tests of the VGCF systems demonstrated the promise of the technology. In the current effort, the technology will be tailored and optimized to meet specific application criteria.