This proposal presents a plan for studying the feasibility of an innovative automatic inert gas pressurization method and new gasket materials that will increase the service life of munitions while in containers. Transfer of state-of-the-art elastomer technology from other fields that use gaskets will be studied, as well as the feasibility and value of initiating a government sponsored development program for a new gasket material specifically for munitions containers. The automatic gas pressurization system will utilize advanced and innovative technology for low cost, highly reliable units. Phase I will come up with a conceptual design and the basis for development in Phase Ii.
