Super materials include innovations in
processing and production of crystals, semiconductors, nanotechnology, superalloys
and metals, high performance glasses, gels, polymer thin films, and superconductors.
It incorporates parts of traditional materials science disciplines with
biotechnology, physics and chemistry. Primary uses include lasers, medical
imaging, and pharmaceuticals.
Among the top 10 technologies over the next 10 years - those with the greatest
potential for business profits- the field of super materials is second only
to genetic mapping in its US and worldwide potential. (Olesen, The Futurist,
Sept/Oct 1995, p. 9). The space station, through its novel uses of reduced
gravity, improves our understanding of processing for advanced materials
and therefore enhances the quality of life here on earth. The National Research
Council identified the synthesis and processing of novel materials as America's
most serious weakness compared to achieving its international goals. The
report drew particular attention to this weakness because it "specially
impedes the ability to transform America's Research and Development entrepreneurship
into commercial entrepreneurship." (Materials Science and
Engineering for the 1990's: Maintaining Competitiveness in the Age
of Materials, NRC, Washington, 1989)
The substantial US investment at stake in critical space station era technologies
includes six broad categories: aerospace, transportation, health care, information,
energy and the environment. The breadth of microgravity research addresses
each area with current and future experimental programs extending into the
space station era. As an example, the 1995 United States Microgravity Laboratory
(USML-2) crystallized proteins and infrared imaging components for health
care screening and the design of therapeutic treatments, formed chemical
catalysts (zeolites) for the energy industry including petroleum refining,
and conducted research into semiconductor substrates.
Surpassing Long-term Goals
Much of the present emphasis on improving the production of novel materials
was foreseen as early as 1976, when the seven NASA research centers reviewed
the potential for space-based materials processing. As authored more than
20 years ago, "The Forecast of Space Technology: 1980-2000"
sets priorities towards the year 2000.
From 1980-2000, the agency-wide goal was for: (1) an order of magnitude
improvement (10x) in the homogeneity of semiconducting materials; (2) orders
of magnitude improvements (100x) in the purity of processing; and (3) containerless
processing. These goals have largely been met or exceeded for many example
materials, including as much as a thousand-fold reduction in crystalline
defects (e.g. as evidenced most recently in infrared imaging crystals for
night vision) and the containerless processing of many metals, alloys and
in some cases, even proteins. Thus, while numerous questions remain, the
goals of twenty years ago, as outlined by all the NASA research centers,
appear to be on schedule to meet or exceed long- term forecasts.
return to top of page
Curator: Linda Porter
NASA Official: Robert S.
Snyder
last update: August 15, 1996