Thermoplastic Composite Lockers for Hazardous Material Storage on Navy Ships Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Topic No.: N102-144 Topic Title: Thermoplastic Composite Lockers for Hazardous Material Storage on Navy Ships Proposal No.: N102-144-1209 Firm: Touchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd. The Millennium Centre 1142 Middle Creek Road Triadelphia, West Virginia 26059-1139 Contact: Jesse Blacker Phone: (304) 547-5800 Web Site: http://www.trl.com Abstract: Touchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd (Touchstone) is proposing to use a building-block approach to develop an innovative all-composite solution to solve the Calcium Hypochlorite storage locker problem that the Navy is currently facing. An all-composite storage locker will eliminate corrosion maintenance almost entirely, will reduce weight compared to metallic lockers, and can be designed to meet fire and shock requirements. Touchstone proposes utilizing thermoplastic composite materials technology, which, in addition to being lightweight, high in strength, and impact-resistant, offers excellent chemical resistance. Thermoplastic composites, such as Tegrisr (made by Milliken & Company), contain polypropylene fibers that reinforce a lower melt temperature polypropylene matrix. Lightweight, high shear strength core materials, such as CFOAMr Carbon Foam (made by Touchstone), may also be utilized in the locker to increase stiffness, minimize weight, and increase fire, smoke and toxicity (FS&T) resistance. Benefits: The benefits of a composite storage locker for Hazardous Materials such as Calcium Hypochlorite made from all-composite materials will be immense and will include significantly improving corrosion resistance and the life cycle and maintenance costs associated with corroded metallic lockers. The thermoplastic composite materials proposed in this effort are chemical resistant and lightweight, have high stiffness, and perform well in impact loading. The lightweight carbon foam cores that are proposed in this effort improve fire resistance, minimize weight, and provide increased stiffness for the design. Composite HM storage lockers have applications, not only to the Navy, but also to other DoD agencies and private sector industries. A unique benefit of the corrosion resistant lockers could be realized at the local level, where Water Utilities utilize large amounts of Calcium Hypochlorite to sanitize water supplies. Composite lockers could reduce their maintenance costs significantly. Other industries can benefit as well, including aerospace, transportation, recreational, and industrial. Return