Triton Systems, Inc.
  The Technology Innovators

 Triton Systems, Inc. has become recognized as a leading materials product and process development company creating innovative products in emerging materials markets.  Our success is based on understanding our clients’ needs and our ability to see simple solutions to complex problems.

We develop innovative new products by applying in-depth knowledge of Materials Properties and Processes together with our Strategic Marketing Skills and Strategic Alliances with Fortune 500 Companies.  We form partnerships early in the development cycle of new products that form the infrastructure to support the emergence of these products from the laboratory to the market place.

The privately financed company was founded in 1992 and is located north of Boston in the town of Chelmsford, MA.  Currently Triton has in excess of 45 employees and is sustaining an average annual growth rate of 45%.

To satisfy a variety of material requirements from space to hard visor coatings to lightweight materials to specialty high temperature materials, the Triton team combines process know how with their fundamental knowledge of advanced materials in the areas of:

• High Performance Polymers
• Nano-Engineered Materials
• Metal Fabrication Technologies
• Polymer, Ceramic and Metal Matrix Composite

The key to Triton’s success has been the ability to efficiently and quickly take innovative materials from the laboratory to the marketplace.  An example has been the use of nano-engineered resins to make impervious gas pouches for a commodity manufacturer—in the period of one year, Triton went from production runs of a few pounds to an initial production order of 20,000 pounds.

Examples of Triton’s capabilities in these areas follow, along with some recent press releases.

Advanced, High Performance Polymers:

Triton offers products based on its Advanced Polymers made under a series of exclusive patent licenses from NASA. These polymers feature properties that render them uniquely suitable for use in space, in electronics, and in separation membrane applications.

Metallized TOR-LMä Film (silver/inconel)

NASA has sponsored Triton’s highly significant polymeric materials development over the past 6 years at a level totaling over seven million dollars. Triton’s success has been recognized through an “Invention of the Year Award” from Langley and by its nomination as NASA SBIR Contractor of the Year, both in 1995.

Triton’s polymers are available in different grades depending on the end-application.   For Low Earth Orbit (LEO) applications, a polymer has been developed for thermal control blankets that offers Atomic Oxygen (AO) resistance with 10 times longer space survival than currently used materials such as Kapton.   This material also has the requisite UV survival rates.

Of particular interest for Solar Sail applications are the UV and particle beam resistant polymeric materials of the TOR, COR and CP classes that have also been reinforced and made electrically conductive (to reduce problems of electrostatic charge buildup). An example of such a material is shown below.

Electrically Conductive, “Rip-Stop” Reinforced
Thin Film Membrane

Hence, Triton Systems, in a very short time span, has successfully transitioned NASA laboratory polymers from lab scale to commercial scale, using, Government, private, and in-house funding. These developments have led to a multitude of products:

• AO Resistant and Conductive Metallized Films for Space Thermal Radiators
• Polymer films for beam resistant solar sails
• Fiber for braided thread and woven structures
• Resin for electrical wire insulation and thin coatings
• Resins for coating or composites for lightweight oxygen or hydrogen fuel containers
• Membranes for contaminated liquid separation
• Film for use in Flexible Electronic Circuits and Space Exposed Surfaces

Nano Engineered Materials:

Triton Systems is a leader in cutting-edge nanotechnologies for a variety of applications. Currently, a significant fraction of our effort is focused on polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites. A revolutionary new interfacial chemical design has been applied to extend the applicability of this technology to the realm of higher use-temperature high performance polymer systems. Significant new applications are being generated by this approach. Superior thermal, mechanical, thermo-mechanical and barrier properties are being obtained in commodity as well as specialty plastics. Triton is actively developing several applications in close collaboration with the government, large chemical companies, and the end-users. These applications include:

• Flame-resistant nanocomposites
• Barrier Structures for Food Packaging
• Impact Resistant Commodity Plastics
• High-Temperature Applications
• Superior Coatings

Abrasion Resistant / Anti-Reflective Coatings

Triton Systems' Advanced Coatings Group is developing protective coatings for a variety of plastic substrates for key defense and commercial applications. We work in close collaboration with our customers to tailor coating characteristics to satisfy specific requirements. We incorporate specific properties into the coatings through innovative materials research and design. The spectrum of coating properties includes:

• Superior Abrasion Resistance
• Anti-Reflection
• Tailored Refractive Indices
• Protection from Chemical Agents

The wide range of applications includes aircraft canopies, architectural glazing, masks, anti-reflective coatings, eyewear and automotive applications.  An example of visor coatings is shown below:

Triton Hard Coated Visors and Shields

Triton Systems in-house capabilities cover all aspects of the design and development of advanced coatings. Triton coatings display a much higher level of abrasion-resistance than the state-of-the-art.  Of course, it is the combination of extremely high abrasion resistance, good adhesion and other properties that truly elevates these coatings above the state-of-the-art.

Metal Matrix Composites (MMC):

The Metal Matrix Composites Group at Triton Systems develops affordable lightweight metal matrix composite (MMC) materials for a variety of markets from electronic packaging to aerospace and the military.  Our integrated approach to the design, development and production of cast MMC products centers around near net shape Enhanced Pressure Infiltration Casting (EPIC), our core process technology.  Working closely with our customers, our team has the expertise in metal matrix composite materials, design and process technology to rapidly develop a product from concept to prototyping to full production.  The MMC Group's areas of expertise include:

• MMC Product Design and Process Simulation
• Cast MMC Materials Engineering
• Discontinuously Reinforced Aluminum (DRA)
• Continuous Fiber Aluminum Matrix Composites (CF AMC)
• Rapid Prototyping of MMC Components
• Enhanced Pressure Infiltration Casting (EPIC)

We work closely with our customers to produce high quality MMC products that meet customer specific application needs, such as:

• Aerospace Structural Components
• Turbine Engine Components
• Optical Mechanical Components
• Electronic and Avionics Packaging

Triton’s technology for fabricating high performance discontinuous particulate and continuous fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composite (AMC) components eliminates much of the cost associated with the standard fabrication methods of machining components from a solid block of forged material. We have successfully leveraged this SBIR developed technology to produce a variety of AMC components for commercial customers, including Bell Helicopter Textron, Hamilton Standard and Pratt & Whitney.

As an example, Triton is currently under contract with the Navy to provide improved and cheaper flight control manifolds for the V-22 Osprey.  This is an example of Triton’s close cooperation with the Government and industry (Bell Helicopter Textron) to transition leading edge technologies to the marketplace.

Triton Discontinuously Reinforced Aluminum Metal Matrix Composite
for V-22 Hydraulic Flight Control Manifold

Another example, shown below, has been the application of continuous fiber AMC material for Hamilton Standard’s advanced lightweight nozzle actuator (ALNA) design for the Pratt & Whitney spherical convergent flap nozzle.  The advantages of the CF AMC material include lower cost and weight compared to the current titanium housing.

Triton Continuous Fiber Reinforced Aluminum
Matrix Composite Actuator

High Temperature Composites

The High Temperature Materials Group focuses on developing affordable ultra-high temperature composites (UHTCs) for a variety of markets, including government and aerospace and private sector niche applications.  Triton produces UHTCs using processing routes that include preceramic polymer impregnation and pyrolysis (PIP), hot isostatic pressing (HIP), and various methods utilizing chemical vapor deposition/infiltration.  We provide ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) based on material systems that include SiC, HfC, TaC, BN, Si3N4, refractory borides, and alloys of those materials.  In the case of continuous fiber ceramic composites, these composites are available with a variety of graphite or ceramic fiber types.  For example, TSI produces, C/SiC, SiC/SiC (Niclaon or Sylramic fiber), and Nextel/SiC CMCs. In addition we provide vapor deposited coatings of the same ceramics and refractory metals such as Nb, Mo, Re, Ta or W.  Other coating systems utilize plasma spraying and ceramic sol-gel technologies.

We have developed fabrication processes that are demonstrating themselves as economically viable.  Recent developmental efforts have focused on improved vapor infiltration processes utilizing thermal and pressure gradients in order to drastically decrease processing times and component costs.  Similarly, we are utilizing preceramic polymer based processes for production of CMC components for specific applications.  PIP offers the potential of leveraging existing low cost polymer matrix composite processing technologies, such as filament winding, injection molding, and fiber pre-preg, in order to shorten CMC production cycle times and component costs.

At TSI we are combining our core competencies with ceramic polymer, metal, and nanomaterial composite technologies in order to design and fabricate advanced components whose severe design criteria require sophisticated integration of different material systems.  For example, the combination of refractory metal tubes and SiC based composites have enabled demonstration of the first generation of CMC heat exchangers for use in such applications as regenerative cooled rocket engines, actively cooled leading edges, and scram jet engine flow paths.  TSI is advancing that technology to utilize lighter weight metals or PMCs in order to further reduce component weight while not sacrificing the already significant gains in use temperatures and component lifetimes.

Triton Facilities and Equipment:

Triton Systems, Inc. occupies 25,000 sq. ft. of office and laboratory space in Chelmsford, MA, a suburb of Boston that is home to many high tech R&D and computer companies.  The laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art chemical synthesis apparatus, separate areas devoted to advanced polymer processing and fiber spinning, composite facilities (MMC and CMC), and nano-engineering equipment.  All laboratories are equipped with laminar flow hoods and clean room facilities.  Additionally, there is analytical equipment in support of work in these areas.

Triton Systems, Inc. is proud of its track record and looks forward to
continued satisfaction from its clients in its role as Technology Innovators