Volume 9, Number 5 • September/October 2001 • Technology Transfer

NASA Material Helps Company’s Bottom Line

NASA technology helped ADMA president Vladimir Moxson improve his company’s bottom line. ADMA, which specializes in powder metallurgy, had used NASA’s composite material, PS200, for eight years. When NASA developed the newer PS300 composite, ADMA recognized its potential to make parts such as journal bearings more robust.

The PS300 composite, a self-lubricating bearing material containing chromium oxide, was developed as a coating to increase the life of foil bearings in oil-free systems. Because PS300 is stable at high temperatures under high loads, it is better suited than other materials for applications in many areas, such as aerospace, turbomachinery, rotary engines and transportation vehicles, including off-road and military vehicles. PS300 is applicable wherever there is a desire for lower weight, less maintenance or higher operating speeds and temperatures.

ADMA’s initial application to license PS300 was not accepted by NASA. The Great Lakes Industrial Technology Center (GLITeC) was available to help the company. GLITeC interviewed company management, organized and defined the company’s markets and customers, reviewed pricing and developed a plan for promotion and sales of the new product. GLITeC also evaluated the manufacturing economics to justify necessary capital expenditure. With GLITeC’s help, the company submitted a new commercialization plan, and NASA granted ADMA’s license application.

Dr. Moxson was pleased with the results, saying, “We have a considerable amount of time invested in working with PS300. Obtaining a license is critical to our business strategy, which calls for increased sales over the next five years and beyond. GLITeC stepped up to the plate for us and quickly facilitated our license.”

Within two months of ADMA receiving the license from NASA, ADMA began to ship a new product made of the PS300 composite. During that time, ADMA also worked closely with the NASA developers to optimize the manufacturing processes and maximize yield. Working closely with NASA, ADMA was able to increase yields of the key starting material from five percent to 45 percent. These improvements reduced the price of the PS300 composite, reduced delivery times and increased ADMA’s profits. Q

For more information, contact Mike Trzcinski at GLITeC, 216/898-6434, or trzcinskim@battelle.org Please mention you read about it in Innovation.

NASA Official: Jonathan Root • Web Design: Printing & Design Office, NASA Headquarters • Credits