Low-density, high-strength aerogels for 6500 meter man-rated submersibles

This project seeks to develop high strength, low density buoyancy material to fill the future needs of manned vehicle exploration of the ultra deep. Since the 1970s, syntactic foams, engineered foams comprised of hollow glass, ceramic or polymer microspheres embedded into a resin matrix, have been the industry standard for providing buoyancy to manned, remote, and autonomous operated vehicles (HOV, ROV and ATV). Syntactic foams are a critical component to the ascent and descent of submersibles, but the industry has reached a strength limit on low density 30 lb/ft3 foams that are capable of being qualified for manned exploration at 6500 meters. 99% of the ocean floor is reachable with submersible activities down to 6500 meters, but the hydrostatic pressure due to water can reach approximately 9,500 psi at this depth. In order for a material to qualify for use at 6500m, it must exhibit crush pressures no less than 15,000 psi. Aspen Aerogels has developed aerogel materials that have the potential to meet the strength and density demands of this application, and proposes to develop this class of aerogels as a solution to meet the mechanical strength demands for deep sea applications.