TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles, Materials/Processes

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMS399 Special Operations Forces Undersea Mobility Programs

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.

OBJECTIVE: Develop and test a grease that is safe for divers (i.e. does not off-gas toxic compounds in a pressurized air or mixed gas environment), does not wash out readily in seawater, and provides acceptable lubrication properties.

DESCRIPTION: The submarine force uses Termalene grease, which provides adequate lubrication and does not wash out in seawater. However, it is not acceptable for use in diving applications due to toxic compounds that it releases in a closed atmosphere. Special Operations Forces (SOF) use either polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) greases such as DuPont Krytox 240AC per MIL-G-27617, or chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) greases such as Halocarbon Products 25-5S. These provide good lubrication but wash out in seawater. A new, environmentally safe grease is needed that will continue to provide sufficient lubrication while resisting being dissolved or washed out by seawater.

PHASE I: Develop candidate substitute grease formulations that will provide the same level of lubrication as provided by PTFE or CTFE greases at a minimum, but are also seawater resistant. Develop and obtain approval for testing criteria and methods. Conduct laboratory testing to down select potential grease formulations for further testing. If the laboratory testing suggests that different chemistries or additives, or combinations of existing greases may improve the performance, then test these alternatives as well.

PHASE II: Perform testing in a realistic Navy Deep Submergence System environment. Use test results to select the optimum grease. Ensure that the selected grease is independently tested for off-gas characteristics at a laboratory approved by NAVSEA. Ensure the selected grease can be manufactured in sufficient quantities for Navy Deep Submergence System applications. Produce at least one full-scale batch of the product to identify and eliminate potential formulation scale-up issues.

PHASE III: Obtain NAVSEA approval for use of the selected grease. Provide all required procurement information to NAVSEA.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The selected grease could find use in private submersibles, diving chambers, or diving suits in support of the off-shore oil platform industry, or in any other operations within enclosed, recycled atmospheres such as in space operations.

REFERENCES:
1. System Certification Procedures and Criteria Manual for Deep Submergence Systems (SS800-AG-MAN-010/P-9290)

2. Submarine Atmosphere Control Manual (S9510-AB-ATM-010(U) REV 2), dated 30 July 1992

KEYWORDS: grease; diver; deep submergence; lubricant; off-gas; closed atmosphere

TPOC: Robert Preisser
Phone: (202)7814136
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
2nd TPOC: Steven Southard
Phone: (202)781-4383
Fax:
Email: [email protected]

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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