99--TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY NEUTRON AND ULTRAVIOLET RADIATIONSHIELDING FILMS: LAR-17535-1 17668-1 17780-1 17830-1 17991-1 JLAB-1265

NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses. THE TECHNOLOGY: Scientists at NASA Langley Research Center, Jefferson Laboratory, and the National Institute of Aerospace have jointly developed a neutron shielding material using boron-containing nanomaterials, which include boron nanoparticles (BNPs) (0D), boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) (1D), and boron nitride nano-platelets (2D), as well as the polymer composites thereof. Effective shielding from ionizing radiation remains an important challenge in various fields, including defense and aerospace, medicine, and nuclear power installations. Shielding is required in order to protect both crew and equipment. The current technology is a method to produce optically transparent neutron shielding windows by dispersing boron nitride nanotubes into a polymer matrix. The boron nitride nanotubes and sheets form a nanoscale filler, which is placed into a durable, hydrogen-containing polymer matrix. Durable aerospace polymers (e.g., polyimides) have already been developed for next generation aerospace vehicles and structures for weight reduction. The addition of BNNTs into the matrix leads to a composite that can improve structural integrity, as well as radiation shielding properties, with minimal weight penalty. Boron nitride nanotubes have a low density (1.37 g/cm3), and boron has a large neutron absorption cross section of 710 barns (10B: 3835 barns). Nitrogen also has a fairly large neutron absorption cross section of 1.9, compared to carbon of 0.0035, which is another benefit for effective shielding. The large neutron absorption cross section, along with the light weight and large surface area of BNNT, enable effective shielding with much less volume and weight as compared to purely hydrogen-containing or macroscopic BN particle-containing materials. Boron nano-inclusion-containing fibers and films can be woven to form appropriate garment materials or can be used as a layer of radiation shielding garments. U.S. patents 8,206,674 and 8,753,578. To express interest in this opportunity, please respond to [email protected] with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this FBO notice and your preferred contact information. Please also provide the nature of your interest in the technology along with a brief background of your company. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at http://technology.nasa.gov/ . These responses are provided to members of NASA Langleys Office of Strategic Analysis and Business Development OSACB for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. If direct licensing interest results from this posting, OSACB will follow the required formal licensing process of posting in the Federal Register. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.