FY 2020 STATEMENT OF NEED 

Weapons Systems and Platforms (WP) Program Area 

The objective of this Statement of Need (SON) was to develop an alternative formulation for use in Department of Defense (DoD) Class B (flammable liquid) fire-suppression operations in lieu of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) in accordance with Interim Amendment 3 of MIL-F-24385F. Specifically, the goal was to address the following research needs:

• Develop PFAS-free drop-in replacements for existing applications of AFFF.
• Develop low expansion PFAS-free foams for applications other than drop-in replacements.
• Develop novel extinguishing agents and approaches.

The projects listed below were selected to address the objectives of this SON. Additional information on individual projects will be available soon.

• Enhancement of Fluorine-free Fire Fighting Agents for Compressed Air Foam Applications
  • Lead Investigator: Jeffery Owens, Air Force Civil Engineer Center
  • Lead Investigator: Braden Giordano, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
• Additive Enhanced Siloxane Surfactants for Fire Fighting Foams
  • Lead Investigator: Kris Rangan, Materials Modification, Inc.
• Innovative Nano-Encapsulated Ionic Liquid-Based Surfactants for Fluorine-Free Fire Extinguishing Foams
  • Lead Investigator: Jaspreet Dhau, Molekule, Inc.
• Aqueous Film Forming Foams based on Biodegradable Natural Surfactants and Additives
  • Lead Investigator: Tirumalai Sudarshan, Materials Modification, Inc.
• Hollow Microspheres based Fire Fighting Foams
  • Lead Investigator: Kris Rangan, Materials Modification, Inc.

Research should provide new PFAS-free formulations that 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.