More Than Just a Polymer
Triton atomic Oxygen Resistant polymers TOR(TM), were developed by Chelmsford, Massachusetts-based Triton Systems, Inc., through a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from NASA's Langley Research Center. The new family of polymers comes from a Langley-developed polymer technology, which marks a new class of aerospace materials that resist the extreme effects of low Earth orbit (LEO). When applied to spacecraft surfaces, TOR polymers protect against erosion caused by the atomic oxygen and radiation present in space. Other polymers, such as Teflon(R) and Kapton(R), are subject to degradation from atomic oxygen and ultraviolet radiation, but TOR polymers use atomic oxygen to their advantage. A long-lasting protective barrier means major savings in the cost of spacecraft maintenance and the time spent performing repairs. While the obvious application of this material lies with the aerospace industry, an underlying benefit is found in the field of electronics. TOR polymers can be made electrically conductive, and then utilized in the creation of sensors that react to the presence of chemical and biological agents by exhibiting a detectable change in electrical conductivity. These sensors have applications in the defense, medical, and industrial sectors.