HybridSilÆ Underwater Curing Adhesive for Acoustically Transparent Applications

The proposed SBIR program will develop and qualify an acoustically transparent resin system that cures underwater and will be molecularly tailored to match the density of seawater. The proposed adhesive encapsulant ÝshallÝ protect acoustic projectors and hydrophones from water while allowing acoustic energy to pass without significant reflection, loss, or distortion. The underwater curable resin system will have significant cost saving of time, money, and manhours compared dry dock repairs of the submarine. Currently used underwater curing two-part elastomers and epoxies were not designed for acoustic repairs and do not meet all the Navy requirements: broadband acoustic transparency under use conditions, ease of application, cured and faired underwater, strong adhesion to metals, urethane coatings, glass-reinforced plastic, and rubber components under environmental exposure, (i.e., salinity, pressure, temperature) submarines service lifetime durability. The proposed adhesive resin technology shall be tailored to meet or exceed the mechanical properties of COTS two-part epoxy elastomers.