CNT-based Composite Self-Monitoring & De-icing System Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Topic No.: N101-038 Topic Title: CNT-based Composite Self-Monitoring & De-icing System Proposal No.: N101-038-0991 Firm: Metis Design Corporation 10 Canal Park Suite 601 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141 Contact: Seth Kessler Phone: (617) 661-5616 Web Site: www.MetisDesign.com Abstract: Composites are increasingly being adopted into aero-surfaces due to their superior specific strength and stiffness, however they can be susceptible to beneath visible-surface impact data. Furthermore, as with traditional aero-surfaces, ice accumulation can result in reduced lift and increased drag. Therefore, the Navy desires an innovative, self-monitoring system for composite wings and rotor-blades to monitor surface conditions. During this SBIR, Metis Design Corporation (MDC) proposes to provide a novel solution to these requirements by leveraging 2 recent SBIR/STTR-funded innovations: direct-write (DW) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Through a NASA SBIR, MDC demonstrated with Boeing the ability to electrode a large complex surface using DW. Through an AFRL STTR, MDC demonstrated with MIT the ability to monitor the health of composites through CNT-enhanced resistance measurements. By combining these technologies, a simple, low-mass, reliable system can be produced to monitor composites for impact damage and ice-formation, as well as providing closed-loop automated de-icing. During Phase I, MDC will work with MIT & Boeing culminating in a demonstration of ice detection, de-icing and impact damage detection using DW-electroded CNT-enhanced composite specimens, with each element demonstrated independently using PC-based algorithms. In Phase I Option, MDC would embed these algorithms to demonstrate combined real-time standalone functionality. Benefits: Once successfully demonstrated through a Phase II effort, there exists a broad commercial market for this product. MDC has explicitly collaborated with Boeing for this project since they are an OEM for many of the target markets. Boeing fabricates commercial and military fixed and rotary wing vehicles, thus is in a perfect position to proliferate this technology. One of the key success factors for this technology is its versatility; the ability not only to be integrated into new applications, but to be retrofitted into an existing system. Since the CNT can be added to pre-cured composite and direct write can be applied at any stage of integration, vehicles already in production could be fitted to take advantage of this technology with minimal modification. Once this technology has been proven in aerospace applications and have been around long enough to reduce their cost of implementation, a system such as this could likely be utilized in many other markets such as naval, automotive and civil applications soon thereafter. Return