SBIR-STTR Award

NASA’s Environmental Control & Life Support Systems (ECLSS) and Habitation Systems are actively seeking nontoxic, comfortable and durable flame-retardant textiles/fabrics that resist combustion in an atmosphere of 36% oxygen at a pressure of 8.2 psi (56.5 kPa) and are suitable for crew clothing. Currently there is no flame-retardant, nontoxic, comfortable, washable and durable apparel or furnishing fabric for the spacecraft cabin environment planned for lunar and planetary human exploration. To meet this need, InnoSense LLC (ISL) proposes to develop an efficient and durable nanolayer flame-retardant finishing treatment for existing fabrics using our proprietary and patented nontoxic flame-retardant materials and treatment processes. The result will be comfortable, soft to touch, breathable, washable, durable, non-toxic and odorless next-to-the-skin FR fabrics that crewmembers can wear during intravehicular activity in 36% oxygen at a pressure of 8.2 psi. ISL’s approach is to introduce permanent, covalently attached nontoxic flame-retardant material to existing fabrics. This will impart excellent FR properties without compromising crew comfort and safety. Phase I results are expected to demonstrate that ISL’s flame-retardant treated fabrics outperform the state-of-the art commercially available flame-retardant apparel fabrics. In Phase II, ISL will work with a major NASA apparel fabric provider to test ISL’s flame-retardant treated fabric performance under simulated spacecraft cabin atmospheric conditions. Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): ISL's nontoxic and durable FR-treated fabric technology can be used for NASA crew clothing. Other NASA uses are in protective clothing, curtains, drapes, upholstery, bedding, carpets, tents, etc. This technology will also benefit several space programs, particularly the lunar Human Landing System, Orion, Gateway, and Artemis, enabling the astronauts to function in habitats, pressurized rovers, and other space vehicles with enriched oxygen atmospheres and to shorten pre-breathe times prior to extravehicular activities. Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): For commercial applications, ISL’s FR-treated fabrics can be used for firefighters, electrical workers, foundry workers, and military personnel. This FR technology will also have applications as treatments for paper (e.g., stocks, bonds, wills, etc.), coatings or fillers for structural and electrical components. Duration: 6

NASA is seeking effective flame retardant (FR) treatment for next-to-the-skin crew clothing. This treatment must be compatible with fabrics relevant to the NASA space crew. The treated clothing must remain: (1) nontoxic even under flame, (2) comfortably wearable, (3) durable to withstand multiple washing/drying cycles, and (4) resistant to combustion in an atmosphere of 36% oxygen at a pressure of 8.2 psi (56.5 kPa). Currently, there exists a technology gap to meet FR needs for crew clothing. Toward this, InnoSense LLC (ISL) will continue developing durable FR treatment using non-halogenated and nontoxic organophosphorus materials (FROM™). In Phase I, ISL demonstrated the technical feasibility by achieving permanent FR coating for polyester (PET) fabrics. Test data showed high coating durability, soft-to-the-touch attribute, nontoxicity, insignificant weight gain, limited oxygen index of ?56%, and excellent FR performance in both 20% and 36% O2 environments, thereby, exceeding Phase I performance targets. In Phase II, ISL will focus on the optimization and scale-up of treatment process, and perform rigorous testing. Evaluation and validation of FROM-treated fabric in a simulated space environment are also planned. At the end of Phase II, FROM-treated prototype fabric samples will be delivered to NASA for evaluation. Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): FROM-treated fabric technology can be used for current or future NASA crew clothing. Other NASA uses are in protective clothing, curtains, drapes, upholstery, bedding, carpets, tents, etc. This technology will also benefit several space programs, particularly the lunar Human Landing System, Orion, Gateway, and Artemis, enabling the astronauts to function in habitats, pressurized rovers, and other space vehicles with enriched oxygen atmospheres and to shorten pre-breathe times prior to extravehicular activities. Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): FROM-treated fabrics can be used for firefighters, electrical workers, foundry workers, and military personnel. The treatment can be used for protective clothing, blankets, tents, furniture, and mattresses. This technology will also have applications for paper (e.g., stocks, bonds, wills, etc.), coatings or fillers for structural and electrical components. Duration: 24