Jim Cast

Headquarters, Washington, DC May 2, 1997

(Phone: 202/358-1779)

John Bluck
Ames Research Center, Mountain View, CA
(Phone: 415/604-5026)

Lori Rachul
Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH
(Phone: 216/433-8806)

Ann Gaudreaux
Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA
(Phone: 757/864-8150)

John Watson
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
(Phone: 818/354-0474)

RELEASE: 97-87

NASA SENDS HIGH TECH INVENTIONS TO ANAHEIM CONFERENCE

NASA will showcase some of its most promising technologies

which could lead to revolutionary products at the 42nd
International Society for the Advancement of Material and Process
Engineering Symposium/Exhibition May 5-8, in the Anaheim
Convention Center, Anaheim, CA.

"NASA is driving cutting-edge technologies, and we're

redoubling our efforts to get those technologies into industry's
hands," said Michael Weingarten, NASA's manager for business
development, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC. "Our goal is to
bring space technology down to Earth so U.S. companies can access
new developments and improve U.S. competitive strength," he added.

NASA invests more than $5 billion in technology development

annually, he said. "It makes sense to bring that cutting-edge
technology back to U.S. taxpayers when such a huge investment is
being made," he stated. "Companies can work with NASA or with
licensed NASA technicians in efforts that will lead to new company
products. We can explore the best way to partner depending on
each client's needs," he explained.

Attendees can enter a contest for a tour of Space Shuttle

facilities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, FL.

A system to treat wastes from metal plating, semi-conductor

production, photographic laboratories, food processing and
aircraft de-icing operations is one technology to be presented at
the symposium by NASA's Ames Research Center, Mountain View, CA.
The system also can be used for seawater and brackish water
desalination.

Additional technologies developed at three other NASA Centers

also are slated for presentation at the symposium.
From NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA:
� Manufacture of carbon/carbon composite materials. Some
potential uses include aircraft and automobile brakes and heat
dissipation for electronics.
� Energy-efficient microwave processing of materials. Possible
uses of the process are ceramic/ceramic and ceramic/metal
joining and semiconductor wafer annealing.
� Ultrasound non-destructive evaluation for composite materials.
This system can be used to measure material thickness,
stiffness, quality, integrity, porosity and resin content.

From NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA:

� Next generation molded magnets. These magnets, made with
metallic particles and a polymer developed at Langley, could be
used in transformers, motors and other equipment.
� Yarn density sensor. This optical sensor is used to determine
the mass and density of textile yarn during manufacture.
� Non-toxic polyimide. Potential uses are to make composite
materials for aircraft, automobile engine parts, circuit
boards, adhesives, foams, resin-molded hardware and thin films.

From NASA's Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH:

� Design and analysis of composite materials and structures.
This technology could be used for aerospace and automotive
components, biomedical devices, civil structures, construction
materials, heat exchangers, pressure vessels and piping,
sporting goods, offshore drilling structures, transportation
components, electronics and utility structures.
� Ceramics Analysis and Reliability Evaluation of Structures
integrated design software. Potential uses are aerospace,
automotive, propulsion and power, bioengineering and glass
applications.
� Affordable silicon, carbide-based ceramics and fiber-reinforced
composites. Uses under consideration are for hot sections of
jet engines, nose cones, radiant heater tubes, heat exchangers,
ceramic burner inserts and other applications.
� Advanced metallics. Commercial uses anticipated include:
(Copper-chromium-niobium alloys) electrodes, welding, brazing,
electrical, plastics and metal castings; (nickel aluminide) die
cast and glass-making molds and many other uses.
� High-temperature polymer matrix composites. Potential uses
include ductwork for jet engines and automotive engines and
exhaust system parts, among other applications.

� Advanced diamond coatings. One possible use is for barriers

for gears and bearings.

Previous technology spin-off success stories include how

composite materials developed for the Space Shuttle are being used
to improve golf clubs, how aircraft wing and body research led to
use of liquid crystals in watches and thermometers, and how
material developed for space suits now covers stadiums and airport
terminals.

-end-