TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Materials/Processes

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: ONR/PMR-51

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 pressure sensitive adhesive that will meet NAVAIR flight qualifications for both rotorcraft and fixed-wing platforms. New adhesive formulations must provide a continuous service temperature from -65ºF to 285ºF for up to 1,000 hours while maintaining a 2 to 8 lb/in width peel strength (as measured by the 180º peel adhesion test method).

DESCRIPTION: The need to increase the performance of new aircraft paint-replacement coatings (e.g. appliqué films) is driving the requirement for better solvent and temperature resistant pressure sensitive adhesive systems to bond these coatings to other surfaces. Current pressure sensitive adhesive are generally restricted to temperatures above 0ºF and cannot withstand higher temperatures above 240ºF. This technology will provide new material systems for pressure sensitive adhesive applications that can be incorporated into aircraft appliqué coatings. The pressure sensitive adhesive systems shall promote easy appliqué film repositioning/removal from aircraft surfaces and minimize adhesive residue on platform substrates.

PHASE I: Demonstrate formulations(s) and formulation process(es) for fabricating pressure sensitive adhesive systems. New formulations must be compatible with low-cost, high-volume roll-to-roll web processing as well as various polymeric appliqué film materials (e.g. polyurethane, nylon, polyimide).

PHASE II: Develop the necessary capabilities and process controls to produce low-cost, high-volume pressure sensitive adhesive systems.

PHASE III: Demonstrate the transition of the developed pressure sensitive adhesives to aircraft appliqué coatings through component demonstration and testing. Compatibility with F/A-18, JSF, V-22, AH-1 and UH-60 systems must be addressed.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Pressure sensitive adhesives would have broad application to commercial aviation if performance requirements can be met with improved processing and higher quality mass production.

REFERENCES:
1. Satas D (ed), Handbook of Pressure Sensitive Technology, 2nd ed, Van Nostrand Reinhold New York, 1989.

2. Test Methods for Pressure Sensitive Tapes, 8th ed., Specifications and Technical Committee of Pressure Sensitive Tape Council, Glenview, IL 1985.

KEYWORDS: Pressure Sensitive Adhesives; Appliqué; Coatings; Paint-Replacement; Roll to Roll; Low-Cost.

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between April 21 and May 18, 2008, you may talk directly with the Topic Author(s) to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting May 19, 2008, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the DoD's SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (08.2 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 08.1 topic under which they are proposing.

If you have general questions about DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at (866) 724-7457 or email weblink.