Advanced Materials, Manufacturing
and
Chemical Processes (AM)
Proposal Due Date:
January 20, 2004
Rapidly changing needs to support new, emerging technologies with
direct impact on business, consumers, and society is creating opportunities
for small businesses in today’s global marketplace. NSF is
committed to supporting scientific discoveries to benefit society
and to emphasize private sector commercialization. NSF seeks to
support high risk; high pay-off research aimed at substantially
increasing the competitive capability of our nation’s existing
manufacturing industries. Novel technologies and systems aimed at
achieving increased performance and reductions in cost, and improvements
in quality and/or quality control through automation are of great
interest.
The goal is to fund development of new materials, manufacturing
and chemical processes that introduce new approaches to advance
the competitive nature and state of the art for U.S. industry. The
ultimate goal is to provide a competitive advantage particularly
for established U.S. industries that are losing market share and
jobs because they cannot compete effectively in today’s marketplace.
Technologies, processes, machines and systems having potential for
revolutionary changes and paradigm shifts that can leap-frog current
methods will be given special consideration. The time frame for
commercialization of this applied research should be more than 3
years, but less than 10 years.
[Note: Advanced Materials, Manufacturing and Chemical Processes
(AM) topic has been grouped into three broad areas of interest,
(A) Advanced Materials, (B) Manufacturing, and (C) Chemical Processes.
Please select a broad area of interest and a specific subtopic appropriate
for the proposed research; for example, A.1. represents Advanced
Materials (the broad area) and Environmentally Benign Technology
(the specific subtopic). The subtopic designation on the cover page
should be A.1.]
A. Advanced Materials
Innovative projects to advance new classes of materials, material
systems and processes are sought. Of interest are materials of high
quality and reproducibility, with superior properties for potential
applications, obtained through control of chemistry, morphology,
and processing variables.
1. Environmentally Benign Technology
· Improved techniques for recycling
· Processing of recycled materials
· Pollution prevention /avoidance processes
2. High Temperature Materials
· Metal, ceramic and composite materials developed for high
temperature applications
· e.g. Improved turbine blade materials/processing
3. Structural Materials
· Improved strength, toughness, fracture resistance, etc.
materials
· Processing and material improvements
4. Corrosion Resistant Coatings
· Surface coatings and modifications which lead to improved
corrosion resistance
· Improvements in materials for corrosion resistance
5. Tribological and Wear Resistant Coatings
· Surface coatings and modifications which lead to improved
wear resistance and/or reduced friction
· Material improvements in tribology/wear
6. Engineered Materials
· Improved processing and/or materials with engineering applications
other than those listed above. (No nano, biotechnology or electronic
materials.)
· Smart materials
· Shape memory alloys
7. Surface Modification and Thin Film Technology
· Process improvements for modifying surfaces and applying
thin films
· Material improvements related to process modification that
are not related to corrosion or tribology
B. Manufacturing
Innovative projects are encouraged in the area of manufacturing
processes, machinery, and systems with the goal of making the country’s
manufacturing base more competitive through innovation and responsiveness
to changing needs. The overall goal is to support new and innovative
manufacturing systems and processes that will advance the competitiveness
of the nation’s manufacturing sector, with particular interest
in established manufacturing industries.
1. Polymer Processing and Rheology
· Injection molding, extrusion, etc.
· Process improvements
· Material property improvements based on processing
2. Casting/Molding Processes
· Die Casting, Sand Casting, Investment Casting, etc.
· Improve die/mold materials
· Improved efficiency/control in processing
· Improved material properties
3. Machining and Material Removal Processes
· Milling, Grinding, Drilling, etc.
· Cutting tools
· Process improvements
4. Deformation Processes
· Forging, sheet-metal processing, punching, etc.
· Process improvements
· Material property improvements based on processing
5. Powder Material Processing
· Powder metals
· Powdered ceramics
· Hybrid materials and powder processing
· For powder-based materials/processes that are not high
temperature/structural materials.
6. Composite Manufacturing Processes
· Composite lay-up and manufacture
· Composites that are not included in powder material processing,
high temperature materials or structural materials
7. Additive Manufacturing
· Rapid Prototyping/Solid Freeform Fabrication
· Process improvements
8. Manufacturing Process Control
· Improved controllers and interfaces
· Improved control processes
9. Machine Design
· Improved design of machines and equipment
10. Joining and Assembly Processes
· Welding, Adhesives, etc.
· Assembly automation and control
11. Non-traditional Material Removal Processes
· EDM, lasers, plasma, waterjet, etc.
12. Manufacturing Systems
· Hardware and process-related research in categories such
as group technology, cellular mfg., automated material handling
processes, etc.
C. Chemical Processes
Innovative techniques that involve the transformation and transport
of matter and energy with the focus of contributing the knowledge
base of industrial manufacturing, as well as natural processes are
of interest. The Chemical Processes subtopic supports research that
involves the development and commercialization of processes and/or
products based upon fundamental engineering principles, mathematical
models, and experimental techniques, with an emphasis on projects
that have the potential for innovation and broad application in
areas such as the environment and chemical processing.
1. Separations Applications
· Membranes
· Adsorbents
· Extractants
2. Novel Catalytic Systems
· Fuel cell/reformer applications
· New catalyst applications
· Improvements in catalyst efficiency
3. Photochemical or Electrochemical Applications
· Fuel cell commercialization
· Novel applications of radiation to affect chemical reactions
· Applications oriented innovative capacitor research
· Innovative electric current applications to affect chemical
reactions
4. Fluid Flow Applications
· Improved systems related to single phase and multi-phase
fluid flow
· Novel spraying applications
· Innovative particle technology applications
· Computational software related to the modeling of industrially
applicable processes (non-IT related)
5. Combustion-Related Processes
· Emissions improvements
· Efficient applications for combustion of gaseous, liquid
or solid fuels
6. Applications of Plasma Technology
· Innovative use of plasmas to produce specific products
· Surface modification as a result of plasma use
7. Thermal Energy Applications
· Novel material applications for thermal control
· Improved energy efficient applications
· Innovative heat transfer applications
8. Reactor Engineering Applications
· Membrane reactor systems
· Reactive injection molding systems
· Supercritical fluid applications
9. Chemical Technology
· Molecular-level design
· Synthesis of novel molecules
· Characterization techniques for chemical systems, surfaces
or interfaces
Please direct inquires for the following subtopics under this
topic to the specific SBIR/STTR Program Manager listed below:
Joseph Hennessey (jhenness@nsf.gov)
703-292-7069
Subtopic A. Advanced Materials
Cheryl Albus (calbus@nsf.gov)
703-292-7051
Subtopic B. Manufacturing Processes
Rosemarie Wesson (rwesson@nsf.gov)
703-292-7070
Subtopic C. Chemical Processes
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