SBIR-STTR Award

Improving Performance of Solid Rocket Fuel Through Advancements in Materials Science
Award last edited on: 5/20/2023

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : Navy
Total Award Amount
$1,039,837
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
N211-006
Principal Investigator
Igor V Barsukov

Company Information

American Energy Technologies Company

220 West Campus Court Unit D
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
   (847) 414-6788
   customerservice@usaenergytech.com
   www.usaenergytech.com
Location: Multiple
Congr. District: 08
County: Cook

Phase I

Contract Number: N68936-21-C-0041
Start Date: 7/22/2021    Completed: 1/26/2022
Phase I year
2021
Phase I Amount
$239,872
American Energy Technologies Company, a woman-owned small business concern out of Arlington Heights, Illinois will conduct the modeling and simulation of the performance of carbon-based ram jet nozzle inserts aimed at maximizing the combustion performance of new-generation solid rocket fuels. The primary objective of the modeling work will be to prevent condensation of oxide phase on the nozzle. Simulation work will be supported by advanced in-house manufacturing, which will result in the fabrication of several candidate carbon composite materials uniquely suited for new formulations of solid rocket fuel. These will focus on the optimization of their thermal, mechanical, and light-reflective properties, with the latter being of critical importance for handling light-emission energy fluxes which form during the transition of vapor-phase non-stoichiometric oxides to their fully and/or near-stoichiometric equivalents. The model is expected to result in the formulation of new guiding principles for the development of graphitic carbon-based nozzle inserts designed for handling new types of solid fuel. The adjacent material characterization work will result in the development of materials whose conceptual properties meet model expectations. Work will also include advanced materials characterization to determine thermal and mechanical properties of the newly proposed composite materials.

Phase II

Contract Number: N68936-22-C-0039
Start Date: 9/29/2022    Completed: 9/30/2024
Phase II year
2022
Phase II Amount
$799,965
American Energy Technologies Company, a woman-owned small business concern out of Arlington Heights, Illinois will conduct the modeling, technology development and prototyping of the specialized carbon-based ram jet nozzle inserts aimed at maximizing the combustion performance of new-generation solid rocket fuels. The primary objective of the inserts will be to prevent condensation of oxide phase on the nozzle. Simulation work will be supported by advanced in-house manufacturing, which will result in the fabrication of several candidate carbon composite materials uniquely suited for new formulations of solid rocket fuel. These will focus on the optimization of their thermal, mechanical, and light-reflective properties, with the latter being of critical importance for handling light-emission energy fluxes which form during the transition of vapor-phase non-stoichiometric oxides to their fully and/or near-stoichiometric equivalents. The work is expected to result in the formulation of new guiding principles for the development of carbon-based nozzle inserts designed for handling new types of solid fuel. The adjacent material characterization work will result in the development of materials whose conceptual properties meet model expectations. Work will also include advanced materials characterization to determine thermal and mechanical properties of the newly proposed composite materials.