Structural Materials Open BAA   14

Background
The Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials & Manufacturing Directorate, Structural Materials Division, AFRL/RXC, is soliciting white papers and potentially technical and cost proposals under this announcement that support the needs of its Structural Materials and Applications mission. The technologies of interest range from materials and scientific discovery through technology development and transition. Descriptors of Materials and Manufacturing Directorate technology interests are presented in two contexts in the Statement of Objectives (BAA Attachment 1); that of structural materials science and engineering academic 'competencies,' and that of Air Force application area needs.

Work Details
The solicitation is for the development of advanced high-temperature constituents for fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) and an understanding of their behavior in relevant service environments. Specific research involves the development of next-generation fiber reinforced structural ceramic materials and processing for a range of air and space applications including turbine engine and scramjet engine hot-section components and thermal protection systems for hypersonic vehicles. Additionally, it includes conceptualization, development, manufacturing, and sustainment of polymer matrix composites in propulsion and structural applications for lighter-weight and higher-temperature structural components; predictive, optimized, and agile processing methods; rapid insertion of robust materials with better as-manufactured performance baselines; and survivability from electromagnetic energy and laser threats through multiscale functional materials.