General Nano and supply chain and OEM partners have developed VeeloHEAT, a lightweight, flexible, uniform heater that the aerospace composites industry is currently evaluating to improve throughput, quality and efficiency for out of autoclave composite processing, composite tooling with embedded heating elements, specialty heaters bonded to metallic tooling, and composite repair. Contained within the proposal, General Nano will summarize a suite of nanostructured heat materials that are manufactured using high-throughput assets and continuous manufacturing operations. The uniqueness of General Nano's products, form factors, manufacturing processes, and customer-centic product development focus earned The Boeing Company's
Benefit: General Nano's VeeloHEAT product, which is proposed in this SBIR, was recently marketed at SAMPE Seattle trade-show in May 2017 and drew significant interest from the existing aerospace composites supply chain for the following applications: out of autoclave and in-autoclase composite processing, heated composite tooling, heated metallic tools, composite repair, deicing on fixed wings and rotorcraft air vehicles, and heated parts on weapon systems. The market's interest in VeeloHEAT is driven by the need for increased composite manufacturing efficiencies (throughput), reduced energy (cost reduction), uniformity (better parts, less post-processing and re-work), simplified tooling designs (faster delivers), and more reliable composite repair options in the field/depot. Collectively, it is anticipated that these benefits will result in improved efficiencies in the supply base, lower energy costs, and improved composite repair options in the field and at production facilities.
Keywords: flexible, flexible, Continuous Production and Product Form, Uniform Heating, Fast Heating and Cooling, Lightweight
