TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: RTV Silicone Sealing Method for Component Interfaces (MSC-TOPS-127)

NASA’s Technology Transfer Program solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses.

THE TECHNOLOGY: Innovators at NASA Johnson Space Center have developed a method using low-viscosity RTV silicone to form durable seals between polymer bladder and metal bulkhead interfaces to be used for inflatable space habitats. As NASA continues to research the viability of inflatable space habitats made with flexible materials, much consideration is given to reliably maintain pressurized environments for astronauts through the use of advanced seals.

In early inflatable test articles, seals between bladder and bulkhead interfaces were achieved using a combination of O-rings and gaskets alone. However, when planning for long duration missions, there was a concern that the compressive force of an O-ring could create a line load on the bladder and cause potential failure of the bladder material and overall seal.

An RTV silicone sealing method was developed as a solution to this problem, and works with an arrangement of O-rings and gaskets that act as a dam to form a channel that maintains the placement of the RTV silicone. The RTV silicone sealing method may have commercial applications here on Earth as it can yield a cure-in-place seal that can form-fits to a complex channel.

This sealing method has a technology readiness level (TRL) 5 (Component and/or breadboard validation in relevant environment) and is now available for patent licensing. Please note that NASA does not manufacture products itself for commercial sale.

To express interest in this opportunity, please submit a license application through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) by visiting https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/MSC-TOPS-127 If you have any questions, please e-mail NASA’s Technology Transfer Program at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this SAM.gov notice and your preferred contact information.

For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at https://technology.nasa.gov/ These responses are provided to members of NASA’s Technology Transfer Program for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.