TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Materials/Processes

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Advanced Undersea Systems; Deeo Submergence Sytem; Alvin Replacement Progra

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 a low density 6500 meter syntactic foam material capable of being man-rated with a composite density of 30 +2/-1 pcf.

DESCRIPTION: There is no syntactic foam available anywhere that is capable of 6500 meter manned rating with a density of less than 35 pcf. The goal is to produce a low density (30 +2/-1 pcf) man-rated material that is operable in the ultra deep environment having a working life of 25 years. The technology improvement may be used in commercial (example ALVIN), and military (example U.S. Submarine) applications. For design of deep submergence vehicles, a lighter (less dense) syntactic foam will allow for much greater vehicle design flexibility. Syntactic foams have a very long life cycle, typically 25 years. Materials produced in the 1970's are still operating, however the density is very high. Developing a new foam process will provide for a new lighter material capable of having a working shelf life of approximately 25 years, and being used for the next 25 years.

PHASE I: The contractor will develop a formulation to produce a low density (30+2/-1 pcf) material that is capable of use on a 6500 meter operational depth Human Occupied Vehicle (HOV) and provide an evaluation/assessment of the new foam's predicted performance.

PHASE II: The contractor will provide 100 cubic feet of prototype material for the Navy to evaluate, classify and certify for the man-rated requirements. The concept proofing of the new low density foam parameters will allow entry in to Phase III qualification.

PHASE III: The contractor will be capable of supplying a minimum of 1,000 cubic feet of the new material over a three year period.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Ultra light weight materials for depths of 6500 meters are not available. The new Alvin Human Occupied Vehicle (HOV) program is in need of low density syntactic foam in order to enable it to dive to ocean depths greater than 21,000 feet. More is known about the surface of the moon than these great depths of the ocean -- this technology can open the way for future research and scientific discovery of unknown value.

REFERENCES:
1. Deep Water Syntactic Foam. http://www.esyntactic.com/dwf.htm

2. Syntactic Foam Material Selection and Depth Rating. http://www.cumingcorp.com/pdf/cumingtechnicalnote100-3.pdf

3. A Functionally Graded Syntactic Foam Material for High Energy Absorption under Compression http://composites.poly.edu/Publications/Gupta-FGSF%20Paper.pdf

4. Composite Syntactics for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) http://jteagueenterprises.com/markets/

KEYWORDS: Buoyancy; foam; undersea; man-rated; submersible; low-density

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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