Gasket Material Development and USA Navy Standards Testing

Project Description

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
MULTIPLE TESTING
Contract Laboratory needed for testing gasket material to meet USA Navy Standards.

We are working on a SBIR proposal to the Navy to develop a gasket that could withstand extreme temperatures (-55 Deg C). The tests will involve stress/strain analysis related to cold temperatures. Also we need to demonstrate the gasket material we develop resist jet fuel and seawater.

Below is the description of the Navy proposal solicitation:

The US Navy's DDG-51 Class destroyers utilize many elastomer seals and gaskets throughout the ship with many exposed to the environment. As the Navy sails increasingly into Polar regions, seals and gaskets are exposed to extreme cold weather leading to performance degradation and premature seal failure resulting in a limited operating environment. Market research has not resulted in a Navy approved material that can survive in the Arctic environment across the spectrum of required seals and gaskets. A new cold weather resistant gasket is needed to replace the existing neoprene gaskets and seals.

The development of a cold weather resistant gasket materials that meet the Navy need will require innovation to overcome technical challenges. The gasket material must meet the mechanical requirements of the Navy to include sustained heavy loads and other forces associated with ship motion, exposure to the harsh maritime environment, saltwater immersion, exposure to industrial chemicals, jet fuel, and fire resistance. Additionally, the gasket material must have excellent performance with minimal loss of mechanical properties at temperatures as low as -50°F while remaining a cost-effective solution for the Navy.
Research into cold weather resistant gaskets has identified several materials that could potentially be developed to meet the Navy's need.

There are materials available which demonstrate the required temperature resistance; however, none of these materials have been demonstrated to meet the Navy's full set of requirements. Additional innovation is required to produce a viable product for the Navy.