Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Nanocomp award extends bullet-proof armor contract

By Brendan Lynch

Nanocomp Technologues Inc. reports it has been awarded an extension to a deal with the U.S. Army to develop lightweight body armor from carbon nanotubes.

Under the deal, Nanocomp will work with the Natick Soldier Systems Center to improve body armor for soldiers by using sheets of carbon nanotubes made by Concord, N.H.-based Nanocomp. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Nanocomp said in controlled testing, its researchers were able to stop a 9-millimeter bullet with carbon nanotube panels several millimeters thick. The goal of the research is to reduce the weight of the armor while improving its ability to protect soldiers from bullets and fragments from improvised explosive devices, according to Nanocomp. The armor could also be used on vehicles.

Nanocomp landed the original deal, initially valued at $1.5 million, in August 2008.

In March 2008, Nanocomp demonstrated its ability to mass produce 3-ft by 6-ft sheets of carbon nanotubes, making a usable textile from a powder. Nanocomp makes carbon nanotubes up to one millimeter in length. The company uses the long nanotubes to make stronger, more conductive and safer products, compared to short, powder-like nanotubes.

Nanocomp CEO Peter Antoinette was honored last week as a Mass High Tech All-Star.