Engineered Low Density Buoyancy Foams for Deep Submersibles Navy SBIR FY2010.3 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.3 Topic No.: N103-220 Topic Title: Engineered Low Density Buoyancy Foams for Deep Submersibles Proposal No.: N103-220-0382 Firm: Composite Technology Development, Inc. 2600 Campus Drive, Suite D Lafayette, Colorado 80026 Contact: Michael Hulse Phone: (303) 664-0394 Web Site: www.ctd-materials.com Abstract: Deep submersibles that reach the deepest part of the ocean, such as the Human Occupied Deep Submersible Vehicle Alvin (Alvin), rely on syntactic buoyancy foam to return to the surface. Alvin is currently capable of reaching depths of up to 4500 meters, which allows for the exploration of approximately two-thirds of the ocean floor. However, an ongoing upgrade to Alvin will allow for depths of 6500 meters and open up 99 percent of the ocean floor for a new era of scientific exploration. New lightweight syntactic buoyancy foam capable of man-rating to 6500 meters is required, but does not currently exist. In response, the U.S. Navy is currently seeking new syntactic foams with densities of 30 +2/-1 pcf that are capable of man-rating to 6500 meters. Composite Technology Development (CTD), working with strategic partners Trelleborg Offshore (Trelleborg) and Alion Science and Technology (Alion), proposes to deliver revolutionary syntactic buoyancy foam through incorporation of previously unachievable loading levels of nano-particle reinforcement. Leveraging currently ongoing efforts to develop ultra-highly loaded carbon nanotube polymer composites, the new syntactic buoyancy foam will be enabled through a unique material processing and manufacturing technique. Benefits: The primary benefit and application for the developed technology will be the realization of manned exploration of the deepest depths of the ocean floor. By enabling an upgrade to DSV Alvin for manned dives to 6500 meters, this technology will open a new era in scientific research of the deep ocean environment. Additional applications include void filling, shock absorption and thermal insulation on the next generation of U.S. Navy submarines, enabling unprecedented performance capabilities at increasingly deeper depths. Return