Alternating Injected Charge Electrospray Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Topic No.: N101-058 Topic Title: Alternating Injected Charge Electrospray Proposal No.: N101-058-0465 Firm: Physical Optics Corporation Information Technologies Division 20600 Gramercy Place, Bldg. 100 Torrance, California 90501-1821 Contact: Alex Kolessov Phone: (310) 320-3088 Web Site: www.poc.com Abstract: To address the Navy's need for electrostatics-based technologies for protective coating application to complex ship structural surfaces, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Alternating Injected Charge Electrospray (ALICE) technology. This proposed device is based on a new design that utilizes in-house developed mature components and COTS components. The innovation in charge injection methodology and control of the spraying process will enable the ALICE coating system to produce uniform, edge-retentive, defect-free protective coatings on grounded metallic surfaces, while maintaining excellent compatibility with the wide range of Navy-qualified coating systems. As a result, this innovative technology offers non-line-of-sight, wrap-around structure coating, eliminating the overhead of unnecessary touchups, directly addressing the Ship's PEO requirements for a reliable method of coating the irregularly shaped shipboard structures, such as ballast tanks, cargo holds, and hull voids. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of ALICE by fabricating and testing a proof-of-concept benchtop prototype, evaluating the new approach versus the state-of-the-art (SOA) electrostatic and nonelectric technologies, and plan for Phase II. In Phase II, POC plans to develop and manufacture a practical, shipyard-deployable coating system, along with the operational protocols and documentation, for initial testing at the Navy shipbuilding facility. Benefits: The proposed technology offers significant improvements in performance of the spray-coating applicators and allows an easy upgrade of existing capabilities at a reasonable cost. Because of the inherent simplicity of the design and extensive use of the COTS components, the productivity increase resulting from the implementation of the ALICE system represents a high return on investment for the U.S. Government, and opens the door to the wider adoption of the future-proof commercial coating technologies industry-wide. Anticipated products based on the proposed research that will be marketable for commercial applications include general-purpose paint sprayers and coaters, automotive painting and sealing machines, wastewater treatment plants, construction and bridge building and maintenance, disinfectant applicators, and agricultural pesticide dispensers. Return