American Chemical Society. (March 5, 1999). \"Smart

American Chemical Society. (March 5, 1999). "Smart Fire Resistant Polymers Under Study for Use for Aircraft." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/03/990325052952.htm

Define the business research and its purpose

One problem that continues to plague the aircraft industry and continues to threaten consumer's comfort and use of air travel is the issue of safety. There is a lingering perception that airplane transport is unsafe, despite the fact that traveling in an airplane is actually, statistically safer than traveling in a car. However, rather than simply combat this problem with statistics, aeronautics industry analysts are also trying to engage in practical efforts to make air travel safer. According to a 1999 national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, "to prevent some of the deaths" in what are termed "survivable" or less damaging airplane accidents, "40% of which are due to fires," new polymers are being created by scientists, the industry, and the federal government, to address some of the issues of flammability in these 'survivable' accidents. (American Chemical Society, 1999)

Explain the business problem under investigation

"Forty percent of fatalities in impact-survivable accidents are due to fire," noted co-researcher Richard Lyon, FAA program manager for fire research and fire safety in Atlantic City, N.J. One way to combat the airplane deaths due to fires is to create new, fire-resistant materials, necessitating collaboration between airplane industry insiders, chemists, and the government. This research into new polymers targeted for aircraft safety is so critical because these new polymers are much more fire-resistant than current materials. When these new polymers are heated, "they actually produce water vapor and leave a nearly nonflammable residue." (American Chemical Society, 1999).

It is noteworthy that most of what modern aircrafts are composed of are not metal, but of polymeric substances, including "the walls, the bins, the seats, the windows, just about everything except the chair supports." (American Chemical Society, 1999). Thus, if a new, less flammable and more water-producing material could be used to construct these walls, bins, seats, and windows, the danger to passengers of fire could be lessened.

Identify the parties involved in conducting the research

This polymer research was and continues to be conducted at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Federal Aviation Administration and was "part of an ongoing series of studies into new fire-resistant polymers," initially sponsored by a government and industry consortium created to improve aircraft safety. The study began in chemistry labs at Cornell University, but now has drawn the eye and the attention of the airline industry itself. (Cornell University, 1997).

Describe the method used to conduct the research project