Fuentek President Laura Schoppe Wins Prestigious Whitcomb Award from NASA Langley Research Center

Jerry Creedon, former Director of LaRC and retired head of Code R at HQ, presents the Whitcomb Aerospace Technology Transfer Award from NASA Langley Research Center to Laura Schoppe.

These individuals made up the "TEEK Polyimide Foam Technology Team." Consisting of NASA Langley researchers (Grimsley, St. Clair, and Weiser), NASA Langley commercialization staff (Manuel and Hawkins), and consultants (Schoppe and Helfrich), this team worked collaboratively to transfer a high-temperature insulation foam developed at NASA (in partnership with Unitika Ltd.) to the commercial marketplace.

"It's rewarding to receive this recognition," said Ms. Schoppe. "It really was a great team effort by everyone involved. Without the contributions of everyone, we couldn't have been as successful."

Ms. Schoppe was involved with the commercialization effort from the beginning. After conducting an assessment of NASA's technology, she developed a marketing strategy that included an industry briefing, which was essential in bringing potential licensees to NASA. Ms. Schoppe also worked with Unitika and the rest of the NASA Langley team to develop the jointly held patents for TEEK as well as a joint production strategy that allowed Unitika to pursue commercial opportunities for TEEK in Japan. Additional marketing efforts identified several potential licensees, and Ms. Schoppe assisted NASA Langley during the licensee evaluation process. TEEK eventually was licensed nonexclusively by SORDAL.

"Laura played a key role in lining up the first licensee," said inventor Erik Weiser. "But she didn't stop there. She prepared an excellent multimedia presentation that I believe helped us win the R&D 100 Award and will go a long way toward bringing in even more licensees. It really was great that she didn't consider her job done once she lined up the first licensee. Her ongoing support was crucial."

TEEK is an innovative new polyimide foam technology that can be processed into neat or syntactic foams, foam-filled honeycombs or other shapes, and microspheres. TEEK foams can have a very low density. Neat foams can be flexible or rigid while foam-filled honeycombs provide structural support. And unlike other foams, NASA's TEEK foams are flame-resistant and have limited smoke emissions.

Although initially developed for use in the space program, the TEEK technology can be used in a variety of "down to Earth" applications:

• Military or commercial aircraft (e.g., fuselage, seat cushions, carpeting)
• Maritime ship hulls
• Reusable launch vehicles for spacecraft
• Circuit boards or other electronics
• Automobiles
• Construction
• Recreational equipment

For more information about TEEK, contact Diane Hope at NASA Langley.