Long-term exposure to even relatively low levels of acoustic and vibration signals has been shown to be potentially harmful to humans. A new class of piezoelectric materials is proposed to provide acoustic and vibration damping for increased crew comfort and protection for long-duration space flight. The effectiveness for piezoelectric materials to damp the kinetic energy of mechanical stimuli such as vibration, impact or acoustic signals has been previously demonstrated by the applicant and others. The proposed piezoelectric materials can be incorporated into crew clothing, seating and bedding; linings for floor, wall and/or ceilings; and integrated into composite panels for use as structural members in vehicle construction. Due to the novel nature of the materials, Phase I will focus primarily on production and characterization of mechanical and piezoelectric properties for sample materials. While issues such as off-gassing and flammability are not considered problematic for the proposed materials, these will also be evaluated during Phase I.
