NASA Highlights Material and Coating Technology Ready for Commercial Applications

May 10, 2019

William Kucinski

Innovations in materials and coatings have enabled countless NASA missions since the agency’s inception. The research that goes into developing these technologies occurs not only within NASA centers, but in academic institutions and industry – often leveraging partnerships with other government agencies and international partners.

The NASA Technology Transfer program patents these technologies and innovations so companies, startups, and entrepreneurs can spin them off into new commercial products. Some of these material innovations have improved industrial and household products. Many NASA coatings and insulations have gone on to protect commercial satellites, industrial machinery, and firefighters.

Learn more about coatings and materials in the mobility industry

Four of these technologies – smart coatings for corrosion detection and protection, aluminum alloys for high temperature applications, particle contamination mitigation technologies, and thermal and environmental barrier coating systems – are among NASA’s most in-demand technologies and have been applied to mainstream engineering projects.

William Kucinski is content editor at SAE International, Aerospace Products Group in Warrendale, Pa. Previously, he worked as a writer at the NASA Safety Center in Cleveland, Ohio and was responsible for writing the agency’s System Failure Case Studies. His interests include literally anything that has to do with space, past and present military aircraft, and propulsion technology.

Contact him regarding any article or collaboration ideas by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..