FY 2022 STATEMENT OF NEED

 Weapons Systems and Platform (WP) Program Area 

The objective of this Statement of Need (SON) was to identify, develop, and deploy functional additives and/or modifications of existing fire-fighting equipment to enhance the fire-suppression performance of mature and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-free fire suppressants for military use. Specifically, the goal was to address the following research needs:

• Performance: Provide data on the firefighting performance of the proposed functional additives and/or modifications to existing firefighting equipment.
• Storability: Evaluate factors such as flammability, reactivity, viscosity, and shelf-life affecting the long-term safe storage of the proposed functional additives.
• Compatibility: Determine the compatibility of the proposed functional additives with the foam, foam delivery equipment, and infrastructure.

The projects listed below were selected to address the objectives of this SON. Additional information on individual projects can be found by clicking the project title.

• Fire Retardant Additives Releasing Smart Beads for Fuel Pool Fire Fighting
  • Lead Investigator: Tirumalai Sudarshan, Materials Modification Inc.
• Development of Zwitterionic Additives to Aqueous Foams to Enhance Suppression of Aromatic and Aliphatic Fuel Pool-Fires
  • Lead Investigator: Ramagopal Ananth, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
• Functional Additives to Improve PFAS-Free Fire Suppressant Foams
  • Lead Investigator: Girish Srinivas, TDA Research, Inc.
• Self-Intumescent Functional Additives for PFAS-Free Foam
  • Lead Investigator: Robert Kasowski, PN Solutions Inc.
• Functional Additives to Enhance PFAS-Free Fire Suppressants
  • Lead Investigator: Mary Yates, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
• Development of PFAS-Free Fire Extinguishing Foam Based on New Siloxane-based Surfactant Formulations and Time-Released Foam Additives
  • Lead Investigator: Carlos Martinez, Purdue University
• Rhamnolipid Enhanced FireFighting Foam (RE-FFFoam)
  • Lead Investigator: Timothy Boebel, Stepan Company
• Control of Draining and Flow to Improve PFAS-Free Firefighting Foams
  • Lead Investigator: Frank Vercauteren, TNO
• Development and Delivery of Point-of-Use Additives for PFAS-Free Fire Suppressants for Military Use
  • Lead Investigator: Satya Chauhan, Battelle Memorial Institute
• Performance Improvements of ADA PFAS-Free Foams Using New Additives
  • Lead Investigator: Kelsey Hoon, ADA Technologies, Inc.
• Environmentally Benign-Phosphorous Polymer(s) Based Fire Suppression Additives via an Intumescence Mechanisms
  • Lead Investigator: Peter Zarras, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division

Functional additives and improved foam formation, discharge and delivery methods should provide increased performance for currently available foams. Additionally, new PFAS-free formulations will enable sustained manufacture and use of AFFF or alternative fire suppression technologies by meeting environmental requirements while maintaining equivalent performance to ensure safety of DoD personnel at airfields and onboard ships.