Rapidly Emplaced Devices to Attach Sensors/Demolitions to Structures

Our soldiers require new methods of attachment for munitions and sensors to unprepared and wet surfaces. Currently a variety of objects: magnets, anchors, shelves, tape, and adhesives are used in surveillance and demolition operations. All these methods of attachment have severe limitations. TRI/Austin proposes the further development of adhesives are extraordinarily insensitive to water, tolerant of unprepared surfaces, offer extremely rapid cure (20 to 30 seconds), and excellent bond strength. In Phase I the versatility of the new adhesives was demonstrated, quickly bonding three to four pound loads to unprepared concrete, aged brick, adobe, painted surfaces, aluminum, mild steel, and many others. In Phase II TRI/Austin will use an experimental design approach to optimize the Phase I adhesive compositions. We will demonstrate the adhesive performance on selected ASTM, internally developed, and supplementary adhesive testing. Testing will be conducted with as received, contaminated, and wet adherends. This is a unique new class of rapid load carrying adhesives. The Phase II will focus on optimization of the new adhesive, product scale up, thorough field application studies, and laboratory testing. This will lead to early commercialization and military deployment during Phase III. These new adhesives will provide cost savings and improved performance.