Sep. 10, 2009 (Business Wire) -- ManTech International Corporation (Nasdaq: MANT) announced today that NeXolve Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary, has received the 2009 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Product Innovation for its development of CORIN XLS Polyimide. The colorless, organic/inorganic nanocomposite transparent polyimide material is highly resistant to solar radiation and atomic oxygen erosion, making it a possible lightweight alternative for glass that is used in space photovoltaic arrays in low earth orbit and in other space applications. In 2008, CORIN XLS was recognized by R&D Magazine as one of the top 100 most innovative and technologically significant new products of the year.
CORIN XLS was developed with funding from the Air Force Research Laboratory as a coating for high strength fibers exposed to atomic oxygen and ultraviolet degradation in low earth orbit. CORIN XLS is ideal for use in space applications requiring high optical clarity and durability to atomic oxygen erosion, such as a replacement for glass covers in solar cells. CORIN XLS is also used in display and electronics applications requiring high optical clarity and polyimide-grade temperature stability.
“Products such as CORIN XLS, which has been highly praised by industry experts, demonstrate how ManTech professionals are using innovation to solve complex problems for our customers,” said Larry Prior, President and COO, ManTech International Corporation. “A large portion of a satellite’s cost is due to the fuel required and the satellite’s weight. Our engineers and scientists recognized the importance of replacing heavy portions of the satellite -- such as metals in support structures and glass in the photovoltaic arrays – with lightweight replacements to lower the launch weight and therefore lower the overall satellite cost,” he said.
“In comparison with other similar materials for space applications, CORIN XLS offers numerous benefits, including self-healing, atomic oxygen and solar radiation durability, optical clarity, temperature stability, ease of processing with existing equipment and solvents, ease of storage, and low temperature curing,” said Frost & Sullivan, Industry Analyst Archana Jayarajah. “This multipurpose material can be processed with organic solvents for spray, dip, or casting applications, as well as with more traditional molding processes.”
Building products and materials that can withstand the rigors of space has been a constant challenge for scientists and engineers. “NeXolve Corporation has addressed this need with its competitively-priced CORIN XLS Polyimide, a product that leverages polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS),” said Jayarahah.
