SBIR-STTR Award

The proposed innovation is a multifunctional smart self sensing and self repairing composite that provides shielding. It addresses the two basic risk issues that are constraining composite use: durability and confidence in repairs so that uncertainty and risk are reduced. Self-sensing/self-repairing composites eliminate the risks by repairing automatically without manual intervention, by giving assurance of damage detection, repair accomplishment and by protecting against severe damage such as ballistics, em pulses. Since much damage needs instant repair, self repairing is required; since there is usually no monitoring and no visible traces , a self sensing system is desired and since em pulses and ballistic attacks are so devastating, shielding is required. This innovation is a multifunctional smart material that has three functions using one form and is smart because it can repair without human intervention and can sense what has happened and act for self preservation.

Keywords:
Self-Repair, Self-Sense, Composite, Fibers, Shield, Damage, Heal, Multifunctional

Most composite armor systems are vlunerable to the damage if there are repeated attacks on the materials because the materials absorb the energy by breaking up internally. The next impact event can be disastrous. Even the most protective have plies which delaminate and fiber weaves that break, and when this material strength is lost, the armor loses protective value agaisnt penetration. This Phase II SBIR proposal suggests continuing on the path of commercialization while doing further development of self repairing and sensing armor systems for the Army’s building panels. Self repair chemicals reattach the internal composite armor plies and fibers and repair the damage by repairng (bonding) it back together. This approach restores stregnth lost by a ballsitic impact and is seen as valuable by the commercial armor producers. In the Phase II SBIR, NPD seeks to keep those functions, which find such interest by companies, while improving the armor further by strengthening the fiber aspect and adding chemistry functionalities.

Keywords:
Self-Repair, Self-Sense, Composite, Armor, Ballistic, Impact, Emi, Multifunctional