US Navy Partners with ALFA International

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport has entered into an agreement with ALFA International Inc. of Woonsocket, R.I. for the commercialization of NUWC XP-1, a high-performance polyurethane developed for protection of marine acoustic and optical equipment.

The two-part polyurethane exhibits good hydrolytic stability and acoustic properties while also being optically clear, the manufacturer said. NUWC XP-1 can be cured at room or elevated temperatures in less than 24 hours.

“Navy chemists and material scientists first developed the polyurethane known as NUWC XP-1 in the 1990s,” said Capt. Howard Goldman, commander of the Navy facility. “NUWC Newport has continued investment to optimize the formulation for protection of equipment, such as sonar transducers, from damage caused by water seepage in the undersea environment. Most recently, NUWC Newport has successfully increased the adhesive bonding and clarity of the encapsulate.”

ALFA International, a manufacturer and supplier of adhesives, epoxies and polyurethanes since 1996, will manufacture and offer the product for sale to government and commercial customers.

“NUWC XP-1 fits nicely into our existing portfolio of products for the electronics, aerospace and telecommunications industries,” said Rajab Aboubakr, president of ALFA International. “We look forward to working with the Navy and other customers in addressing needs for environmentally friendly protection of subsea equipment.”

NUWC Newport is a U.S. Navy Naval Sea Systems Command laboratory devoted to the research, development, test and evaluation of undersea warfare systems. Located in Middletown, R.I., the Division makes its research products available for commercial development under patent license agreements and Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs).

Material test fixtures patented by the command have been used to develop composite decking materials for bridges, specialized fabric for rigid hull inflatable boats and body armor. Image enhancement techniques licensed from NUWC by Advanced Image Enhancement are now incorporated in the software suite of an international digital mammography equipment supplier.

ALFA International Inc. manufactures and markets specialty adhesives for electronics, medical, aerospace, telecommunications, automotive and civil engineering industrial applications. ALFA International’s clients include ITW, Raytheon, General Electric, Ford Motor Company, General Dynamics, Johns Manville, Reckitt Benckiser Teradyne, Amphenol and Clorox.