Space technology transfer is discussed as applied to the field of materials science. Advances made in processing include improved computer techniques, and structural analysis. Technology transfer is shown to have an important impact potential in the overall productivity of the United States

Meyer, J. D.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

INDUSTRIAL BENEFITS AND FUTURE EXPECTATIONS 
IN MATERIALS AND PROCESSES RESULTING 
FROM S PACE TECHNOLOGY 
JohnD. Meyer 
Director, Manufacturing Applications Team 
IIT Research Institute 
10 W e s t  35th Street 
Chicago, Illinois 60616 
129 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19770023336 2020-03-20T07:54:31+00:00Z
A s  has often been stated, one of this nation's most vital resources is 
technology. However, just like any other resource, technology must be applied 
if  it is to be useful. Properly utilized, technology can improve our jobs, our 
hedlth, our homes, and our future. And, like other types of resources, how 
effectively we use technology will not only impact the quality of our lives, but 
also that of future generations. 
Without a doubt, the foremost pioneer and motivating force in the field 
of technolology utilization has been NASA. In 1958, the law creating NASA con- 
tained a specific provision mandating %he widest practicable and appropriate 
dissemination of information concerning its activities and results thereof. IT In 
those days, NASA was breaking new ground not only'in space research, but also 
in applying the results of that research to nonaerospace applications. Since then, 
NASA has stimulated progress in many areas only remotely related to the purpose 
of its original research. 
One of the areas in which industry has benefited enormously from the 
results of space research is in new materials and processes. It would be 
impossible to cover the entire spectrum of developments in these fields which 
could be traced back to NASA. Therefore, the remainder of this discussion will 
focus on highlights of several of the technologies which have been successfully 
transferred, areas of recent and current research which offer future potential, 
and a new program NASA has initiated to speed up transfers of this type - the 
Manufacturing Applications Team . 
One area that quickly comes to mind when considering materials which 
have resulted from aerospace research is anticorrosidn coatings. Needless 
to say, corrosion is a major problem in such field a s  bridge construction, 
off-shore oil rigs, and pipelines in the marine industry. Traditionally, coatings 
used for these applications have relatively short lifetimes (4  to 6 years), 
frequently require two coats, and are expensive. A zinc-rich silicate paint, 
originally developed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, has been adapted 
and commercialized for these applications. Because of a special binder, this 
paint exhibits longer life and superior adhesive characteristics over those 
previously used. In many instances only a single coat of paint is needed rather 
than the traditional two coats. Additionally, the silicate paint also covers more 
area per gallon and costs less to purchase. Thus, this new coating offers 
advantages in lower materials costs, reduced labor hours to apply, and fewer 
applications over a given time span. One study has estimated that there is a 
$ 2  billion annual market in applying coatings of these types, therefore, the 
economic payback can be very real indeed. 
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Fire retardant coatings is another example where NASA technology has 
resulted in improved materials. These coatings were originally developed as 
part of the heat shielding and fire retardant systems for manned spacecraft. 
They are  now commercially available and are receiving wide acceptance in con- 
struction of office buildings, manufacturing plants, schools, and a variety of 
other buildings. The coating contains a subliming compound which vaporizes 
without melting at a certain temperature, absorbing heat in the process. The 
coating is sprayed or brushed onto building components such as steel beams, 
electrical cables, etc. When the coating compounds sublime, they absorb heat 
from the flame as well as from a porous char layer which serves a s  a highly 
efficient insulation. In this manner they retard flame spread and delay ignition - 
of combustible materials. 
Similarly, polyurethane foams developed for insulating the Saturn rocket 
have been used as insulation by boat manufacturers. Such insulation is needed 
for insulating such areas as fish storage compartments. The polyurethane foam 
is used in place of cork and fiberglass and provides better, cheaper, and more 
reliable insdation. To date, more than 40 tuna boats have been insulated in 
this fashion. 
Safer t ires is another area where NASA developed materials have made 
an impact. A flexible rubber originally developed for the mobile equipment 
transporter used during the Apollo 14 mission, coupled with fibers developed 
for shroud lines for the Viking lander, have been used by Goodyear to develop 
a new winter radial snow tire for automobiles. Conventional tires lose their 
pliability below freezing. However, this new rubber remains pliable even at 
-95°F. The fiber used in the cords of the tire have a chain-like molecular 
structure that gives it incredible strength in proportion to its weight. On a 
pound-per-pound basis it is five times stronger than steel. Goodyear started 
production of these t ires in 1974. 
Energy absorbing foams €irst used by NASA's Ames Research Center 
in the design of aircraft passenger seats have also found their way into applica- 
tions in other areas. This particular material is an elastomeric, open-celled 
foam which exhibits three times the shock absorbing capacity of previously used 
materials. Applications have included foams for body protection, linings for 
football helmets, baseball chest protectors, and padding in soccer shin-guards. 
In addition to athletic applications, the foam is also being used in wheelchairs, 
x-ray table pads, and off-road vehicle seats. This material exhibits such shock 
absorbing characteristics that it is claimed a 3 in. 
the energy from a 10 f t  fall by an adult. 
thick pad can absorb all 
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Needless to say, a discussion of materials which have resulted from 
space research could go on almost indefinitely, and would certainly include 
areas such as advanced composites, new alloys, lubricants, special polymers, 
and many others. 
A s  far as processing is concerned, the fruits of NASA technology have 
been equally as widespread. For example, NASA fracture-toughness tests 
originally devised to check spacecraft structures helped one farm implement 
manufacturer select materials which would enable the design of larger, more 
durable plows. These larger plows, coupled with more powerful tractors, have 
helped to increase productivity by 10 percent in this area. These same fracture- 
toughness testing techniques have also been used by electric utilities and nuclear 
pressure vessel manufacturers for detecting flaws which might lead to brittle 
fractures 
The use of computer aided techniques for test, inspection, and diagnosis 
is another area where industry has benefited significantly because of NASA's 
pioneering efforts. For example, technology contained in an environmental 
control and life support system developed for a prototype space system included 
a subsystem to monitor the performance of various items of equipment, detect 
failures, and identify specific malfunctioning units. This subsystem provided 
a springboard to a commercial, computer-operated diagnostic system for 
isolating malfunctions in trucks and autos. In just 25 min, it can run through 
a total auto health check comparing operation of each part with factory specifica- 
tions. This system is employed by used car, and even new car dealers to 
satisfy customers that the vehicle they are buying is in tip-top shape. In use 
at repair stations, the system not only identifies trouble it also tells the 
mechanics - and the customer - why a faulty component is bad and how it may 
be fixed. After repairs have been made, a second printout shows the customer 
that the problem has been corrected. 
Although not processing per se, structural analysis is another area where 
NASA has substantially advanced the state-of-the-art. Computer aided design 
techniques which enable engineers to create mathematical models of space 
vehicles and simulate their performance were developed by NASA some time 
ago. This technique enables engineers to study performance and structural 
behavior of a number of different designs before settling on the final configuration 
and proceeding with construction. From this base of aerospace experience, 
NASA 's Goddard Space Flight Center developed the NASTRAN general purpose 
computer program, which offers an exceptionally wide range of analytical 
capability with regard to structural design. NASTRAN has been applied to autos, 
trucks, railroad cars, ships, nuclear power reactors, steam turbines, bridges, 
and office buildings. NASTRAN is essentially a predictive tool. It takes a look 
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a t  a computerized representation of a design and determines how the structure 
will react under many different conditions. It can, for example, note where 
high stress levels will occur and identify potential failure points that need 
strengthening. Conversely it can identify over-designed areas where weight 
and material might be safely saved. NASTRAN can also evaluate how pipe 
stands up under strong fluid flow, now metals are affected by high temperatures, 
how buildings will fare in an earthquake, o r  how powerful winds will cause a 
bridge to oscillate. NASTRAN is quick and inexpensive. It minimizes trial and 
er ror  in the design process and makes possible better, safer, lighter structures 
while affording large scale savings in development time and materials. Because 
NASTRAN is widely employed in industry, it represents an enormous national . 
economic benefit. One study estimated that in the period from 1971 to 1984, 
NASTRAN will return more than $700,000,000 to U. S. economy. 
These are only a few of the highlights of some cases where NASA technology 
has improved industrial processing. There a r e  numerous other examples in areas 
such as  test and inspection, welding procedures, contamination control, tooling, 
cryogenics, instrumentation, safety, and material handling. 
The future potential for successful transfer of NASA technology to non- 
aerospace industries looks extremely bright. For example, a novel composite 
material developed through Ames Research Center's continuing studies on high 
temperature space materials may be useful for better brake linings. One of 
several compositions which have been fabricated demonstrates increased wear 
resistance and lower costs over conventional brake lining materials. It also 
exhibits a constant coefficient of friction at temperatures a s  high a s  650°F, a 
region where conventional brake linings fade markedly. These new materials 
should substantially reduce maintenance and replacement costs in public 
vehicles and also assist the trucking industry in increasing braking capability 
in response to a directive issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration. 
Recent work by Largely Research Center can potentially improve our 
ability to separate nonferrous metals from industrial scrap and, thereby, reduce 
raw material costs through recycling. The technique used for separating the 
scrap is based on the concept of ferrofluids, which a re  suspensions of magnetic 
particles whose apparent density can be varied by regulating the gap between an 
electromagnetic field. This concept was originally developed by NASA to control 
liquid propellants under zero gravity conditions. The ferrofluid is magnetically 
sensitive and ferrous materials in a molten state will sink because of their 
higher density, whereas nonferrous materials will float. This technique is 
currently in a pilot plant development stage and has been used to separate 
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aluminum, zinc, and copper from various types of scrap. The A i r  Force is 
also working on separating titanium chips using the process. The ferroauid 
concept is also being used for rotary shaft seals to provide zero leakage, low 
maintenance, and easy installation on rotary shafts protruding into vacuum 
processing systems, 
There are many other NASA technologies which have potential applications 
in nonaerospace industries which will be discussed later in this document. 
The presentation' s final topic of discussion is NASA' s new Manufacturing 
Applications Team (MATeam) . A s  the name implies, the MATeam is composed 
of technical experts who will work with professional societies, industrial 
associations, various government agencies, and individual companies to define 
significant and widespread manufacturing problems and identify the appropriate 
space technology for potential solutions. In addition to identifying appropriate 
technologies, the team, in cooperation with NASA and industrial organizations, 
will attempt to demonstrate solutions by conducting applications engineering 
work in developing prototypes when appropriate. That is, the team will actively 
pursue the transfer and implementation of technologies similar to those described 
earlier in the presentation. 
One might wonder why NASA has started the MATeam program in light 
of its past successes in technology transfer. To understand the reasons behind 
the MATeam, one must first have an appreciation of the fundamentals of NASA's 
technology utilization program. In short, the purpose of the technology utiliza- 
tion program is to bridge the gap between NASA technology and industry applica- 
tion. To accomplish this, NASA relies on four major types of activities: 
publications, information centers, applications projects , and application teams. 
Each activity has a well-defined role to play in technology transfer. The publica- 
tion program is aimed at disseminating information concerning NASA technology. 
The information centers, of which there are 1 2  scattered around the country, 
are a source where individuals and companies can go to have the vast storehouse 
of NASA information searched in view of their needs. Applications projects 
a r e  special efforts aimed at solving a particular problem using specific NASA 
technologies. Applications teams, however, are set up to actively pursue the 
application of NASA technology to a specific sector of the economy. They are 
intended to fill the gap between the person or organization with the need and the 
person o r  organization with the solution. 
Past experience has shown that one of the most effective ways to accom- 
plish technology transfer has been through applications teams. Until recently, 
NASA has concentrated its applications teams' activities in the areas of bio- 
medicine, transportation, and the needs of state and local governments. The 
MATeam is the first applications team directed to solving manufacturing problems 
through the application of aerospace technology. 
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During the first year of the program the team will concentrate its efforts 
on working with manufacturing industries in such areas as machine tools, heavy 
equipment, and electronics assembly. If the concept is successful the team will 
expand its scope of operation to include other industries in the future. 
In closing, it should be noted that probably the most important impact 
that technology transfer can have is on our overall national productivity. During 
the past ten years, productivity gains in the U.S. have been lagging considerably 
behind those of Western Europe and Japan, and one of the ways to reverse this 
trend is through the application of more advanced technologies. Thus, it 
becomes vitally important to the long range well-being of our country to 
maximize the transfer and application of these technologies. 
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Industrial benefits and future expectations in materials and processes resulting from space technology

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