NRC partners with DRDC on advanced materials R&D to commercialize lighter weight equipment and vehicles for military

Those looking for an example of the government's emerging customer-focused, collaborative approach to technology development and commercialization need look no further than a new joint program launched by the National Research Council and Defence R&D Canada. The two R&D organizations recently launched an ambitious Security Materials Technology Program (SMTP), initially aimed at reducing the weight of materials used for personal protective equipment and armoured vehicles by at least 25%.

The program has a seven-year time horizon and will see multiple technology portfolios within NRC engage with DRDC personnel and facilities as well as a host of industry players that make up Canada's security industry sector. It's also a prime example of how the NRC is structured and operates in the wake of its transformation into a market-facing research and technology organization (RTO).

"NRC is on the cutting edge but now R&D is driven by customer needs and market opportunities, connecting with existing Canadian firms," says Dr Dan Wayner, NRC's VP emerging technologies. "We have been working with DRDC on a project-by-project basis for a number of years but now we're coordinated and pooling our expertise."

Boron nitride nanotubes

NRC's emerging technologies portfolio has been conducting research into carbon nanotubes for several years now but it's the group's current research on boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) that will play a key role in the DRDC collaboration.

While BNNTs share many of the characteristics of carbon nanotubes, they also possess optical and infrared transparency, superior thermal and chemical stability, neutron shielding, electric insulation and the ability to generate electrical current when subjected to mechanical stress, according Dr Andrew Johnston, SMTP's program leader. NRC researchers have developed and demonstrated new technology for producing BNNTs 100 times faster than existing methods, making them scalable for mass production.

While NRC's clients tend to be from industry, DRDC's major client is the Canadian Armed Forces. The two are cooperating on the development and management of NRC's security and disruptive technology portfolio and the SMPT program, facilitating access to national and international collaborations and information sharing networks with universities, international defence organizations and civilian RTOs.

For its part, NRC will contribute approximately $5 million annually over the course of the program, with DRDC providing roughly the same in the form of in-kind and personnel. Both organizations will be contributing the use of specialized facilities and equipment.

Weight reduction key to competitiveness

Through consultation with industry and other players, the two organizations determined that the development of lighter materials at commercial scale was a natural focus for their collaboration.

"We asked what would give Canadian companies competitive advantage and we came up with the 25% weight reduction (through the development of novel materials)," says Wayner, who holds responsibility for information and communication technologies, measurement science and standards, astronomy and astrophysics, and security and disruptive technologies. "We have developed a method for the pilot-scale production of many grams of BNNTs a day on route to get to many kilograms a day. We expect to start seeing outcomes in the first two or three years. One of our key metrics is to pick the low-hanging fruit and get systems into the market ... A number of companies are engaged now because we like to engage industry at the early stage so industry understands the manufacturability."

Canada's defence and security industry is surprisingly large, employing more than 100,000 Canadians. Within the sector, Canada's capabilities in military and civilian armoured vehicles and protective equipment for personnel are especially receptive to the technologies developed by the SMTP program.

"Canada already enjoys a disproportionate share of the armour market but that leadership will start to diminish if new technologies are not introduced. In terms of long-term industry relevance, BNNTs should be ready for prime time in seven years," says Wayner. "We have an understanding of the value chain from materials manufacturers to integrators that currently exists in Canada and we want to help grow and enhance competitiveness."

DRDC is particularly well equipped to assess and respond to the needs of both the military and the companies that provide goods and services to the armed forces. In 2012, it assumed sole responsibility for a major roadmapping initiative.

The Soldier Systems Technology Roadmap (SSTRM) started as a joint venture between Industry Canada and DND and was transferred to the latter when Industry Canada terminated its technology roadmapping secretariat in late 2011 (R$, January 20/12).

SSTRM is the largest and most sophisticated technology roadmapping exercise ever attempted in Canada and seeks to match the future requirements of the Canadian soldier in the field with technologies emanating from industry, government labs and academia. Wayner says that while there is no direct link between SSTRM and the NRC-DRDC collaboration, a smaller, more narrowly focused technology roadmapping initiative has been launched.

"The Canadian Industry Security Materials Roadmap is smaller and designed to support this collaboration in the short term," he says. "We're now focused on the 25% weight reduction initiative but we also need to understand the current and future market. We could launch other programs under SMTP but in each case there needs to be an industry driver."

Both SSTRM and the new technology roadmap are manifestations of the new thinking that is now permeating federal departments and agencies.

"These collaborations with DRDC are critical and underline how the new government approach is more efficient and effective in addressing cross-government priorities," says Wayner. "This program also cuts across silos within NRC. It engages the security and disruptive technologies portfolio, the aerospace portfolio and the automotive and surface transportation portfolios."

The bulk of NRC's R&D for SMTP will be conducted in Ottawa and Boucherville QC, home to the former NRC Industrial Materials Institute.

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