KOSEN 한인과학기술자네트워크

Biomimetic Inspired Fibers, Materials, and Properties Primary Sponsor: Department of Defense Deadline: 4/11/2001 KEYWORDS TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Materials / Processes OBJECTIVE: Demonstrate the application, via mimicry, incorporation, adaptation, or replication, of biological silk fibers into the design and construct of novel, high tensile strength, high elasticity, and extremely light weight fibers, composites, and/or materials. DESCRIPTION: Current studies on protein fibers, or silks, from spiders, Nephila clavipes, and silkworms, Bombyx mori, demonstrated enormously high tensile (or compressive) strength and percent elongation to failure (elasticity). Similar properties and characteristics can be enhanced in novel, ultra-lightweight films, composites, fibers, and polymers by incorporating these biologically inspired constituents. Technical challenges lie not in bulk manufacturing, but rather in producing in vitro protein fibers and films which retain the requisite in vivo properties. The applicability of novel polymeric extrusion processes to the improvement of silk fiber performance should included in the proposed study.The technological elements required to achieve the stated objective most likely exist; therefore, early efforts in this project should address appropriate sequencing, application, and processing of these elements. The materials should be regularly characterized so as to assess the impact of any changes. As the "correct" pathways are determined, the concept of scalability should be considered. Thus, a second step to this project should be incorporating the fiber into a composite, polymer, or other material. PHASE I: Demonstrate, from pre-identified biological systems (e.g., the N. clavipes or B. mori), the ability to produce, in vitro, ultra-lightweight protein fibers AND films with high tensile strength and elasticity. Assess material properties and characterize the fibers and films. Then, develop a plan for scaling production of the protein fiber and film showing incorporation of either into a composite, polymer, etc. during Phase II. PHASE II: Incorporate the Phase I biomimetic fibers into a composite, polymer, or other material. Characterize the material properties. Demonstrate that the fibers enhance the tensile strength and elasticity of the fiber-incorporated substance. Further, demonstrate scalability of the production and material processing of the fiber, film, and/or fiber-incorporated substance(s). PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Ultra-lightweight, highly elastic materials (films, fibers, composites, etc.) with high tensile (compressive) strength would have several commercial and military customers. Applications would include medicine and pharmaceuticals, optics, coatings, automotive and aerospace components, electronics, clothing and apparel, etc. REFERENCES: 1. Kaplan, D., Adams, W.W., and Farmer, B.L., "Silk Polymers: Materials Science and Biotechnology," ACS Symposium Series 544, 1994. 2. Fahnestock, S.R. and Bedzyk, L.A., "Production of Synthetic Spider Dragline Silk Protein in Pishia pastoris," Appl Microbiology and Biotechnology, 1997. 3. Fahnestock, S.R. and Irwin, S.L., "Synthetic Spider Dragline Silk Proteins and Their Production in Escherichia coli," Appl Microbiology and Biotechnology, 1997.4. Guerette, P.A., et al. "Silk Prope KEYWORDS: Biomimetics, Composites, Films, Polymers, Fibers, Materials, Novel materials, Emergent behaviors, Material processing, Material characterization DoD Notice: Between January 2 and February 28, 2001, you may talk directly with the DoD scientists and engineers who authored the solicitation topics, to ask technical questions about the topics. The Topic Author is listed in the box below. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed after February 28, 2001, when DoD begins accepting proposals under this solicitation. TPOC: Robert Cohn PHONE: 703-696-7722 EMAIL: robert.cohn@afosr.af.mil After February 28, 2001 proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS). If you have general questions about DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at (800) 382-4634 or email to SBIRHELP@teltech.com. NOTE: The Solicitations listed on this site are copies from the various SBIR agency solicitations and are not necessarily the latest and most up-to-date. For this reason, you should use the agency link listed below which will take you directly to the appropriate agency server where you can read the official version of this solicitation and download the appropriate forms and rules. The official link for this solicitation is: http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir/sttr01/dod_sttr01.htm. DoD will begin accepting proposals on March 1, 2001. The solicitation closing date is April 11, 2001.