Blending of Aircraft Washing/Cleaning Detergents and Chemical/Biological (CB) Warfare Agent Decontaminants for a Dual-Use Application

Under the current SBIR solicitation, the DoD is interested in the development of novel decontaminant solutions based on existing aircraft approved fluids (e.g., cleaning or deicing fluids), and application methods that will be compatible with the Transportable Decontamination System (TDS). The aircraft decontaminating solution should be capable of detoxifying chemical warfare (CW) agents, Non-Traditional Agents (NTAs) and Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs) without adversely affecting the performance, properties or appearance of aircraft materials or increasing susceptibility to corrosion. The decontamination and cleaning solution should decontaminate, degrease, clean and protect aircraft in an environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and health and safety conscience manner. The cleaning process must be thorough and rapid to protect military personnel and avoid interference with military operations. The cleaner must also be effective under a wide variety of environmental conditions, with operational decontamination capability from -25 to 130 °F. Under the proposed program, METSS will demonstrate materials and methods needed to develop a novel surface cleaner that will decontaminate as well as protect military aircraft from corrosion. The basic approach presented in this proposal will encompass the development of an advanced emulsion system that will support cleaning (dissolves the toxins) and decontamination (destroys the toxins), while providing immediate and residual substrate protection (prevents corrosion).