ROCKLEDGE, FL – May 10, 2006 – Mainstream Engineering Corporation, a leading research and development company specializing in advanced thermal control and energy conversion, has been awarded two contracts from NASA Johnson Space Center to develop, test and produce non-toxic, low freezing point heat transfer fluids for space applications.
In the first contract, Mainstream is continuing to develop its QTherm™ line of heat transfer fluids with freezing points from -10 to -35°C and minimal volume expansion upon freezing. Mainstream engineers are also developing water-based fluids with an approximate 0°C freezing point, as well as a proprietary B-Pak™ biocide package for long-term, microbial resistance, and a P-Pak for pH buffering and corrosion control. As part of the contract, the Mainstream engineering team will be performing comprehensive thermal, physical and safety characterizations.
QTherm™ fluids have space-based applications in EVA suits, ISS secondary cooling loops and CEV environmental control. Mainstream is already using one coolant from this family of fluids in its QwikChill™ Instant Can Cooler, which is a developmental device for the Naval Surface Warfare Center and Office of Naval Research. The QwikChill™ Instant Can Cooler cools a can of soda from room temperature to refrigerator temperature in 10 seconds.
In the second contract, Mainstream is developing a non-toxic, non-flammable, -80°C phase-change material for NASA ICEPAC applications. ICEPACs are used as solid/liquid phase-change packs for cryogenic transfer in cryodewars.
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