Applied Nanostructured Solutions

About

Applied Nanostructured Solutions, LLC (ANS), founded in 2008 and based in Baltimore, Maryland, develops carbon nanotube-infused materials for aerospace and industrial structural applications as a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. With a private funding structure and 50-100 employees, ANS has focused on translating CNT technology from research into qualified aerospace materials that meet stringent industry requirements. The company emerged from recognition that carbon nanotubes' exceptional mechanical and electrical properties could enhance fiber-reinforced composites if integration challenges could be overcome. ANS developed proprietary processes for infusing carbon nanotubes directly onto carbon fiber and glass fiber surfaces, creating CNT-infused fibers that serve as drop-in replacements for conventional reinforcement fibers in composite manufacturing. This approach addresses a fundamental challenge in CNT composites—achieving good dispersion and interfacial bonding between nanotubes and the polymer matrix. By growing or depositing CNTs directly on fiber surfaces, ANS creates intimate mechanical interlocking and chemical bonding between nanotubes and matrix resins. The resulting structural composites exhibit enhanced mechanical properties including improved interlaminar strength, fracture toughness, and damage tolerance compared to conventional composites. Additionally, CNT-infused fibers provide electrical conductivity, enabling multifunctional composites with integrated sensing, electromagnetic shielding, and lightning strike protection capabilities. ANS has worked closely with aerospace manufacturers to qualify CNT-infused materials for aircraft structures, demonstrating that nanotube enhancements can be achieved within existing manufacturing processes and quality assurance frameworks. The company's materials have been incorporated into commercial and military aircraft components, representing significant validation of CNT composite technology. Beyond aerospace, ANS targets automotive, wind energy, and sporting goods applications where lightweight, high-strength materials provide competitive advantages. The company's CNT-infused fibers have been used in automotive body panels, wind turbine blades, and high-performance sporting equipment. ANS maintains production facilities capable of treating fibers at scales required for industrial composite manufacturing, with quality control processes ensuring consistent CNT loading and distribution. As a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, ANS benefits from access to aerospace expertise, testing facilities, and customer relationships while maintaining focus on nanomaterial technology development. The company's success in qualifying nanotechnology-enhanced materials for aerospace applications demonstrates that nanomaterials can meet the rigorous performance, reliability, and safety requirements of highly regulated industries. ANS represents an important model for nanotechnology commercialization in structural materials, showing how CNT enhancements can be integrated into existing manufacturing ecosystems rather than requiring entirely new production approaches, facilitating adoption in conservative, high-reliability industries.