Development of Dendrimer-Based Protective Coatings

When military equipment is exposed to chemical warfare agents, its function is seriously compromised until it can be decontaminated. Decontamination now requires use of special formulations that may not be readily available, and which can cause damage to equipment due to their caustic or strongly oxidizing components. The best solution would be to treat surfaces with a coating containing a catalyst that could deactivate common chemical agents without the need for further decontamination formulations. Unfortunately, no such coating is currently available. TDA Research, Inc., (TDA) has identified a route to such a catalytic protective coating, which we call the self-decontaminating surface (SDS). This coating will utilize dendrimers as a catalyst, because the high catalytic activity for the deactivation of chemical agents shown by certain dendrimers. In Phase I we will first test subsystems, including design and synthesis of dendrimer catalysts best suited for the SDS coating. We will then prepare and test coated surfaces, demonstrating both catalytic activity and resistance to environmental challenges, including sunlight, petroleum liquids, and detergents. Phase II, if warranted, will improve performance, provide coatings for tests on DoD materiel, and develop methods for large scale production.