DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIALIZED FLOOR COVERINGS FOR LAUNCH SITE FACILITIES

THIS PROGRAM PROPOSES TO DEVELOP A SPECIALIZED FLOOR COVERING MATERIAL THAT IS HIGHLY RESISTANT TO CHEMICAL EXPOSURE, ANTISTATIC, NON-PARTICLE GENERATING, NON-FLAMMABLE, INEXPENSIVE IN COST AND EASY TO INSTALL AND REPAIR. THE PROGRAM SYSTEMATICALLY EVALUATES A NUMBER OF POLYMERIC AND ELASTOMERIC MATERIALS FOR THEIR CHEMICAL RESISTANCE TO ANUMBER OF HIGHLY REACTIVE CHEMICALS INCLUDING, SOLVENTS, ACIDS AND BASES. THOSE DEMONSTRATING THE REQUIRED RESISTANCE WILL BE MODIFIED WITH COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE FILLERS AND ADDITIVES KNOWN TO PROMOTE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY AND FLAME RETARDING PROPERTIES. THE EFFECTS OFTHESE ADDITIVES WILL BE EVALUATED QUANTITATIVELY TO ALLOW FOR FINAL OPTIMIZATION. ONCE GENERIC FLOOR COVERING MATERIAL TYPES ARE IDENTIFIED, STRUCTURAL ADHESIVES WILL BE PROCURED AND EVALUATED FOR BONDING THE NEW FLOOR COVERINGS TO THE EXISTING FLOOR SUBSTRUCTURES.