Low-Density, Low-Volume Explosion Suppression Material for Aircraft Fuel Tanks

The Navy, as well as other branches of the military, needs improved Explosion Suppression Foam (ESF, urethane foam) as a method of Fuel Tank Explosion Suppression (FTES) for air vehicles. Current ESF materials have a several practical limitations. Routine maintenance of fuel tanks requires that the ESF be removed until maintenance is complete and then reinstalled in the fuel tank. ESF is often difficult to remove and reinstall, increasing the amount of time required for routine repairs and time out of service for the air vehicle. The second limitation has to do with the density and volume of ESF. The nominal density of ESF is 1.3 pounds per cubic feet. At this density the ESF displaces up to 2.5 percent of the fuel by volume and retains up to 2.5 percent of the fuel by volume. An innovative FTES material is needed to replace ESF, while still meeting the same explosion suppression performance properties. The requirements for the improved ESF are a nominal density of = 0.9 pounds per cubic feet, fuel displacement = 1% fuel volume and fuel retention = 1% fuel volume. TDA proposes to develop an improved ESF material that addresses the shortcomings of the current materials.