Acree Technologies Incorporated

About Acree Technologies Incorporated

Acree Technologies is a company that received a Department of Defense SBIR/STTR grant for a project entitled: Erosion Resistant Coatings for Large Size Gas Turbine Engine Compressor Airfoils. The abstract given for this project is as follows: The purpose of this proposal is to demonstrate the effectiveness of using Acree Technology's erosion resistant coating to protect large-size turbine engine compressor airfoils for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft. The JSF STOVL compressor airfoils for both the LiftFan and the F-135 engine are constructed using integrally bladed rotors that can be over a 1 meter in diameter. Acree's erosion resistant coating has been extensively tested in previous projects and is currently at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6. Acree has large deposition chambers for applying our erosion resistant coating that are well suited for coating the JSF airfoils. Acree Technologies is a company that received a Department of Defense SBIR/STTR grant for a project entitled: Diamond-like Carbon Coatings on Polymers. The abstract given for this project is as follows: The purpose of this proposal is to demonstrate the effectiveness of an innovative multilayer scratch, abrasion, and ballistic impact resistant protective coating for eyewear that uses a Diamond-Like-Carbon (DLC) coating as the topcoat. The design consists of an optically thick buffer layer that is first deposited on the polycarbonate that has a refractive index closely matched to that of the polycarbonate substrate. This layer provides an optically transparent and mechanically resilient 'foundation' and substantially improves the load bearing capability of the plastic substrate. The optical index match allows the coating thickness to be adjusted to maximize mechanical performance without affecting the optical performance. This thick buffer layer is then followed with a series of thinner layers including a DLC top-coat to provide excellent scratch, abrasion and ballistic impact resistance. The additional layers between the DLC and buffer layer allow improved optical performance by impedance matching the layer structure to air. The result of this optimized layer structure is a dramatically improved wear resistance, including abrasive and impact, when compared to the current polycarbonate lenses with scratch resistant AR coatings. The coating can be applied inexpensively in Acree's Large Volume Coater (LVC). Acree Technologies is a company that received a Department of Defense SBIR/STTR grant for a project entitled: Production of New Durable, Transparent Conductive Coatings. The abstract given for this project is as follows: Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) is currently used as a transparent electrically conductive coating on aircraft canopies to provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding for electronic components. The problem with ITO is that it is relatively soft and scratches easily, requiring frequent replacement of the windscreen, leading to high maintenance costs and aircraft downtime. In addition, ITO is applied by custom equipment using extremely laborious vapor deposition processes, which are expensive, complicated to operate and tend to produce low yield rates. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the feasibility of using a specialized process to deposit aluminum zinc oxide (AZO) and indium zinc oxide (IZO) transparent conductive coatings as a replacement to ITO. The advantage of both AZO and IZO is that they have hardnesses that are significantly greater than that of ITO and are thus much more scratch resistant and durable than ITO. The deposition process that will be used in this project is much simpler and more forgiving than vapor deposition, producing higher yield rates and less expensive coatings. Acree Technologies is a company that received a Department of Defense SBIR/STTR grant for a project entitled: Innovative Control Effectors for Common Aerovehicle (CAVs). The abstract given for this project is as follows: Acree Technologies Incorporated (ATI) has demonstrated the effectiveness of using an innovative Cathodic Arc Plasma Source (CAPS) to produce high-density plasma for control of supersonic air flow. ATI proposes to use its CAPS system for actuation on the Common Aero Vehicle (CAV). The purpose of this proposal is to demonstrate the effectiveness of using the CAPS to produce high-density plasma for active aerodynamic flight control for the CAV. The goal of the Phase-I is to design an efficient CAPS system and use computer modeling to determine the actuation effects within the speed range of interest, namely Mach 20 - Mach 4. In previous wind tunnel tests the CAPS system has demonstrated a greater than 100% pressure change at Mach 5. The Acree Technologies CAPS has set the standard for pressure changes in a supersonic flow. The CAPS system is light and robust with no moving parts. It is capable of being energized in a matter of microseconds compared to at least milliseconds for mechanical systems, which allows for increased accuracy of the CAV. Acree Technologies is a company that received a Department of Defense SBIR/STTR grant for a project entitled: Innovative Approaches to the Fabrication of Composite Helicopter Tail Booms. The abstract given for this project is as follows: Current production methods of tail booms for rotary-wing aircraft are expensive, inefficient, and produce hazardous byproducts. Conventional methods for production of high end composite parts are both labor intensive and expensive. Alternate methods, such as curing parts in ovens to eliminate expensive autoclave operations, still do not eliminate the high cost of the tooling that needs to withstand the high temperature cures. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the effectiveness of using 3-D weaving and innovative electron beam curing of polymer matrix composites for low-cost fabrication of low production rate, high-performance tail booms for Navy and Marine Corp rotary-wing aircraft. By using off-axis 3-D woven fabrics, the composites will have increased tolerance for torsional loads which are critical to helicopter tail booms. Furthermore, electron beam curing is less expensive, faster, safer, and produces higher performing parts then traditional curing techniques. Acree Technologies is a company that received a Department of Defense SBIR/STTR grant for a project entitled: Alternative Flight Control Methods for Supersonic/Hypersonic Cruise Missiles. The abstract given for this project is as follows: Acree Technologies, Inc. (ATI) has demonstrated the effectiveness of using an innovative Cathodic Arc Plasma Source (CAPS) to produce high-density plasma for pressure changes of over 100% in a Mach-5 flow. ATI proposes to use its CAPS system for actuation of supersonic and hypersonic missile systems. The goal of the Phase-I is to show actuation effects in the speed range of interest, namely Mach 0.5 to Mach 5. Plasma actuators work by coupling electromagnetic energy directly to the flow stream via the plasma without the use of a mechanical intermediary such as a pump, a flap or a motor. By adjusting the plasma density and magnetic field, the lift can be varied between zero and high values. The advantage of this approach is that there are no moving parts, so it is very robust. The CAPS is capable of being energized in a matter of microseconds compared to at least milliseconds for mechanical systems, which allows for increased accuracy of high-speed missiles. Acree Technologies Incorporated is a company that received a Department of Defense SBIR/STTR grant for a project entitled: Infrared-Transparent, Millimeter-Wave Bandpass, Missile Dome Design. The abstract given for this project is as follows: This purpose of this project is to develop advanced coatings for use in tri-mode seeker domes for the next generation Joint Air-to-Ground Missile. The coatings will be deposited using innovative deposition techniques producing films of high optical and electrical quality that are very dense and highly adherent. The coatings simultaneously have high electrical conductivity and IR transparency of greater than 90% past 5'm. The films will be characterized by optical transmission scans, electrical measurements, and EMI shielding from 10-50 GHz. Results of the EMI shielding measurements will be used to design band- selective millimeter-wave (MMW) filters. Furthermore, high temperature conductivity testing to 1000'C will be performed along with abrasion testing, and sand erosion testing. This data will assess the suitability of the different coatings for use in the tri-mode seeker domes. Optimized films will be deposited on IR substrates and incorporated into a coating structure to demonstrate the coatings ability to achieve a high transmission pass region in the MMW Ka-band (between 27 and 40 GHz) while achieving out of band rejection. This structure will be based upon computer modeling refined from the earlier testing of the EMI shielding performance.Acree Technologies Incorporated is a company that received a Department of Defense SBIR/STTR grant for a project entitled: Advanced Canopy and Window Materials for Improved Helicopter and Aircrew Survivability. The abstract given for this project is as follows: The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the feasibility of applying an advanced, multifunctional coating system to canopy windows to increase their resistance to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and attack from low-power laser exposure. The coatings can be controlled during the deposition process to produce laser absorption profiles suitable for a wide variety of window requirements. In addition, the coating system will have an increased resistance to abrasion and scratching and will have an increased resistance to ballistic impact.Acree Technologies Incorporated is a company that received a Department of Defense SBIR/STTR grant for a project entitled: High Temperature Sensor Materials Optimization and Fabrication Methods. The abstract given for this project is as follows: The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the feasibility of using an innovative, nanoparticle inkjet process for directly writing high temperature health monitoring sensors on turbine engine and thermal protection system components without the need for expensive sputtering, CVD, clean room or photolithography equipment. The inkjet process allows sophisticated sensor geometries and material combinations to be produced on the component in a matter of minutes as opposed to the hours needed to produce the sensors using the conventional clean room/sputtering approach. The nanoparticle inkjet process is capable of applying a wide variety of ceramic and refractory metal materials. In this project a number of ceramic materials will be investigated for high temperature strain and TC sensor use. These materials are conductive ceramics that are stable at high temperatures in air and oxidizing environments up to or exceeding 1600' C.BENEFIT: The development of low cost, robust, high temperature sensors will allow: 1) the monitoring of critical structures for degradation during space vehicle reentry, 2) measuring the operating parameters in extremely hot environments such as the compressor and turbine sections to validate computer modeling codes, 3) allow active control of pressure surges in turbine engines, 4) allow the ability to diagnose turbine engine and thermal protection system health and estimate component capability for future missions, 5) and help reduce the significant costs of testing and qualifying turbine engines.Acree Technologies Incorporated is a company that received a Department of Defense SBIR/STTR grant for a project entitled: High Temperature Solid Lubricant Coatings for Air Foil Bearings. The abstract given for this project is as follows: This purpose of this project is to demonstrate the feasibility of using solid lubricant coatings in high temperature air foil bearings. Both the journal and foil components of the bearing will be coated. The journal will be coated with an innovative graded, nanocomposite structure while the foil will be coated with a proven CuAl alloy. The nanocomposite journal coating provides (1) lubricating properties over a broad temperature range (-40'F up to 1200'F), (2) thermal stability in air over this temperature range, (3) excellent loading capability without failure, (4) and excellent wear characteristics. The nanocomposite is deposited on top of a metal nitride with excellent adhesion to the substrate, oxidation resistance and thermal stability. The foil coating will be a CuAl alloy. The coating provides thermal stability and resistance against spallation over the temperature range of -40 to 1200'F. The ductile Cu assists in the bearing run-in to yield an aerodynamically smooth surface, maximizing the bearings loading capacity. BENEFIT:The development of new high-temperature solid lubricant coatings will allow the introduction of air foil bearings into new applications for turbo machinery. This will lead to improvements in engine performance, safety, and reliability.