LIGHTWEIGHT MULTIPURPOSE INSULATION SYSTEMS

A NEW CLASS OF MATERIAL, ORGANOSILICONS, HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PROVIDE THE NAVY WITH A "SINGLE FAMILY" SYSTEM OF INSULATIONS THAT CAN BE USED FOR ALL SHIPBOARD THERMAL, ACOUSTICAL AND FIRE BARRIER APPLICATIONS. THE NEED FOR SUCH A MATERIAL ARISES FROM THE FACT THAT AS MANY AS SIX DIFFERENT INSULATING MATERIALS ARE USED ON TODAY-S SHIPS. THE ATTENDANT LOGISTICAL BURDEN ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VARIETY OF INSULATIONS INCREASES PURCHASING, INVENTORY, INSTALLATION AND GUALITY CONTROL COSTS. A SINGLE LOW COST, LIGHTWEIGHT INSULATION CAPABLE OF MEETING THE MAJORITY OF SHIPBOARD APPLICATIONS WOULD PROVIDE MANY BENEFITS. FOSTERMILLER IS PROPOSING A PHASE I PROGRAM TO DEVELOP AND DEMONSTRATE FEASIBILITY OF A "SINGLE FAMILY" SYSTEM BASED ON PRECERAMIC FORMULATION(S) OF POLYCARBOSILANES (PCS) IN PHASE I, WE WILL PRODUCE PRECERAMIC PCS FOAMS OR FIBERS THAT CAN BE FABRICATED INTO LOW DENSITY,LOW FRIABILITY AND LOW THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY NONWOVEN FELTS AND INNOVATIVE FORMS OF INSULATION. SAMPLES WILL BE TESTED TO DETERMINE THERMAL AND ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES THAT SHOW IMPROVEMENTS OVER CURRENT MATERIALS. WE WILL ALSO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE FLEXIBILITY OF PCS CHEMISTRY WILL PERMIT THE FORMULATION OF A FAMILY OF INSULATING MATERIALS WITH CONTINUOUS USE TEMPERATURES AS HIGH AS 1100 DEGREES F.