Advanced Composite Materials for Submarine Hatches Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Topic No.: N101-065 Topic Title: Advanced Composite Materials for Submarine Hatches Proposal No.: N101-065-0454 Firm: ADA Technologies, Inc. 8100 Shaffer Parkway Suite #130 Littleton, Colorado 80127-4107 Contact: Doug Campbell Phone: (303) 792-5615 Web Site: www.adatech.com Abstract: U.S. Navy submarine and submersible vessels incorporate numerous unique and high performance structural components. To meet their challenging mission requirements, these components must meet substantial performance requirements including resistance to considerable depth pressure, seawater corrosion and other unique U.S. Navy performance requirements. One such structural component is the watertight hatche that allows divers access to and from the vessel. These hatches are fairly complex assemblies and are traditionally made from metals. Unfortunately, corrosion of these hatch assemblies has created substantial maintenance issues for the U.S. Navy. Therefore there is considerable need for advanced materials and associated hatch designs that provide higher performance and reduced maintenance in comparison to the traditional, metal based hatches. To address this need, ADA Technologies, Inc. in partnership with Alion Science and Technology propose a program to develop new forms of fiber reinforced polymer composite materials and their associated manufacturing processes to enable highly structurally efficient and durable composite hatch assemblies. Benefits: Fiber reinforced polymer possess many performance metrics of interest to the U.S. Navy and other military and commercial large-structure industries. However several performance limitations of state-of-the-art composites continue to plague the industry and serve to limit the material's commercial application. The proposed material technology directly addresses the issue of premature failure of composite materials. The proposed material solution would have only modest effects on materials costs and would be compatible with industry standard, composite manufacturing practice. If successful, the proposed material technology will enable highly efficient, highly durable and high performing composite hatch assemblies. Furthermore, the proposed material technology would have broad applicability to the composite materials industry potentially benefiting aerospace, renewable energy and the sporting goods markets. Return