Colorless, Atomic Oxygen Resistant Polymers for Space Applications

Triton Systems, Inc.Chelmsford, MA

InnovationInvented a new space durable thermal control film for spacecraft

thermal control application.

Accomplishments Thermal control films exhibit outstanding combination of thermal-optical

properties and are more space durable than their competing counterparts in use.

Triton has formed a major partnership with a key manufacturer with ~$1M of total matching funds offered by this partnership.

Triton has invested in excess of $500K of its own funds to commercialize this technology.

Triton’s industrial partner has invested about $500K of in-kind matching funds to commercialize this technology.

Commercialization Product name: PAE-TOR and PAE-COR Polymers Triton has four US Patents and patent applications. The primary target/potential market sector is its use in the thermal

management of spacecrafts including emerging ComSats. Product is currently offered for sale. Advertisements are being placed in

leading space publications. PAE-TOR and PAE-COR offer exceptional resistance to the harsh space

environment. No other competing polymeric material offers similar combination of properties.

Government/Science Applications PAE-TOR and PAE-COR have already found applications

in several space missions. The most near term application is the expected flight of the material as a protective coating for ProSEDS electrodynamic tether project managed by MSFC. These materials are also strong candidates for inflatable structures.

If used as expected, the service life of most spacecraft surfaces in low earth orbit (LEO) could be extended by a factor of two. This step alone will save millions of dollars.

PAE-TOR and PAE-COR Thermal Control Films

Points of Contact: - NASA (Denise Swain; 256/544-8112) - Triton Systems, Inc. (Ross Haghighat; 978/250-4200)1994 SBIR Phase 2; NAS8-40635

Marshall Space Flight CenterDate of Update: 1/5/99Success Story #: 8-029