Atch1

FA8650-18-S-5010
Attachment 1
RXC Structural Materials Open BAA

1. Statement of Objective/Needs:

Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials & Manufacturing Directorate is soliciting white papers and potentially technical and cost proposals under this announcement that support the needs of its Structural Materials and Applications mission. Structural Materials technologies that range from materials and scientific discovery through technology development and transition are of interest. Descriptors of Materials and Manufacturing Directorate technology interests are presented below in two contexts; that of structural materials science and engineering academic “competencies,” and that of Air Force application area needs.
In all Directorate research, Integrated Computational Materials Science and Engineering (ICMSE) is used to couple processing, microstructure, and performance via validated computational methods to accelerate materials development, transform the engineering design optimization process, and unify design and manufacturing.
a. Structural Materials Competency Needs:

Ceramics and Ceramic Matrix Composites Materials and Processes: The objective of Ceramic Materials and Processes research is the development of advanced high-temperature constituents for fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) and an understanding of their behavior in relevant service environments. Specific research that is underway in advanced constituents involves development of next-generation fiber reinforced structural ceramic materials and processing and process models for a range of air and space applications including turbine engine and scramjet engine hot-section components and thermal protection systems for hypersonic vehicles. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: understanding of CMC behavior in service environments at the constituent level, maturing existing composite classes and their processes and discovering and validating new materials and process concepts, coatings and processes, characterization and property screening against temperature, environment, stress and time variables, and modeling and simulation used to advance ceramic materials technology.
Polymer Matrix Composites Materials and Processes: Polymer Matrix Composite Materials and Processing (PMC M&P) research involves the conceptualization, development, manufacturing and sustainment of polymer matrix composites in propulsion and structural applications for more “reach” from lighterweight and higher-temperature structural components; more ”affordability” from