Northrop Grumman patented a precursor composition for forming protective articles in aerospace structures. The composition includes acrylic ethylene monomer, foaming agent, strengthening additive, and curing agents. The resulting protective material is lightweight and durable. GlobalData’s report on Northrop Grumman gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Northrop Grumman, Superconducting quantum circuits was a key innovation area identified from patents. Northrop Grumman's grant share as of May 2024 was 54%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Foamed protective material precursor composition for aerospace structures
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11999834B2) discloses a precursor composition for protective articles, comprising a primary polymer, expandable microspheres, strengthening additives such as chopped polyaramid fibers, peroxide curing agents, and various additional additives like thermal ablation, x-ray absorption, and reflectivity additives. The composition is free of an amine curing agent and can exhibit a density ranging from 0.1 g/ml to 1.0 g/ml. The expandable microspheres are in an unexpanded form, and the primary polymer is an acrylic ethylene monomer (AEM) that includes a terpolymer of ethylene, an alkyl acrylate, and an acidic cure site monomer. The strengthening additives can include nanotubes, platelets, rods, or disks of carbon, glass, metal, or ceramic, with specific percentages based on the total weight of the precursor composition.
Moreover, the patent also covers protective articles and aerospace structures incorporating the foamed protective material formed from the precursor composition. The protective articles exhibit a crosslinked AEM material surrounding the expanded microspheres, with substantially uniformly distributed cells. The density of the foamed protective material can range from 0.1 g/ml to 1.0 g/ml, catering to different application requirements. The aerospace structures can feature single-layer or multilayer protective articles, providing enhanced protection. Additionally, a method of forming the protective article is detailed, involving the formation of the precursor composition and exposing it to heat to create the foamed protective article. The method includes steps for crosslinking the AEM and foaming the composition, with specific temperature ranges for optimal results.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
