SBIR-STTR Award

Gougeon Brothers Inc. is submitting a proposal to address the need for a temporary repair procedure for 5xxx series aluminum U.S. Navy ship structures that have stress corrosion cracking issues. The proposal explains how an innovative toughened thixotropic epoxy adhesive can be used to wet out reinforcing fabrics to a surface with simple surface preparation. This concept takes advantage of the work already accomplished by NAVSEA with the permanent composite patch solution and simplifies the products and surface preparation. A thixotropic epoxy adhesive eliminates the use of liquids that can spill and eliminates the ability need to mix and measure. Cartridges that dispense a pre-measured amount of resin hardener through a static mixer will enable easy use aboard ship. The epoxy adhesive will be shear thinning which allows a gel like adhesive to be easily saturate a light weight reinforcing fabric. Testing to evaluate the performance of this repair method will include tensile adhesion, lap shear, and laminate strength testing to determine the ability to stop crack propagation. GBIs experience developing, manufacturing, and marketing epoxy resins and adhesives will enable this repair kit to be commercialized to the U.S. Navy, U.S.C.G., and operators of commercial ships.

Benefit:
The potential commercial application for our proposed repair kit will be the repair of decks and topsides of ships that are constructed with 5xxx series aluminum that have issues with SCC. Initially the U.S. Navy will be the primary customer and GBI anticipates approximately 25 ships to be stocked with multiple repair kits. As the kit is accepted throughout the U.S. Navys fleet, more kits would be required to stock additional ships and replenish depleted supplies. This would result in the U.S. Navy purchasing 100-150 kits per year. Gougeon Brothers Inc. would contact the USCG to make them aware of the repair kit which will increase sales. Our distributor network to would also be notified of the product so that they can contact the operators of high speed ferries and supply ships constructed of 5xxx aluminum. In addition, because this kit utilizes a toughened epoxy adhesive there will also be composite repair applications.

Keywords:
adhesive, adhesive, Aluminum, Epoxy, Stress Corrosion Cracking, temporary, patch, Composite

Gougeon Brothers Inc. is submitting a proposal to address the need for a temporary repair procedure for 5xxx series aluminum U.S. Navy ship structures that have stress corrosion cracking issues. The proposal explains how an innovative toughened thixotropic epoxy adhesive can be used to wet out reinforcing fabrics to a surface with simple surface preparation. This concept takes advantage of the work already accomplished by NAVSEA with the permanent composite patch solution and simplifies the products and surface preparation. A thixotropic epoxy adhesive eliminates the use of liquids that can spill and eliminates the ability need to mix and measure. Cartridges that dispense a pre-measured amount of resin hardener through a static mixer will enable easy use aboard ship. The epoxy adhesive will be shear thinning which allows a gel like adhesive to easily saturate a lightweight reinforcing fabric. Testing to evaluate the performance of this repair method will include tensile adhesion, lap shear, and laminate strength testing to determine the ability to stop crack propagation. GBIs experience developing, manufacturing, and marketing epoxy resins and adhesives will enable this repair kit to be commercialized to the U.S. Navy, U.S.C.G., and operators of commercial ships.

Benefit:
The potential commercial application for our proposed repair kit will be the repair of decks and topsides of ships that are constructed with 5xxx series aluminum that have issues with SCC. Initially the U.S. Navy will be the primary customer and Gougeon Brothers Inc. anticipates approximately 25 ships to be stocked with multiple repair kits. As the kit is accepted throughout the U.S. Navy's fleet, more kits would be required to stock additional ships and replenish depleted supplies. This would result in the U.S. Navy purchasing 100-150 kits per year. Gougeon Brothers Inc. would contact the USCG to make them aware of the repair kit which will increase sales. Our distributor network would also be notified of the product so that they can contact the operators of high speed ferries and supply ships constructed of 5xxx aluminum. In addition, because the kit utilizes a toughened epoxy adhesive there will also be composite repair applications.

Keywords:
patch, Stress Corrosion Cracking, Aluminum, Composite, Epoxy, adhesive, temporary