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Spinoff story
Phase-Change Coating Absorbs Heat from Rockets, Pipes, Beer
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
Most people enjoy an icy drink without thinking about the physics of the phase-change reaction inside the glass. In the early 2000s, Marshall Space Flight Center materials scientist Raj Kaul encapsulated phase-change materials in a plastic that could be applied like paint, aiming to better protect the Space Shuttle’s solid rocket boosters. A commercial license was quickly snapped up by entrepreneur Chris Bilec, whose Austin-based PrimeBilec company has plans to sell it for aviation, in hospitals, and even in an ice-free cooler.