The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport has recently entered into an agreement with ALFA International Inc. of Woonsocket, RI for the commercialization of NUWC XP-1, a high-performance polyurethane developed for protection of marine acoustic and optical equipment. The two-part polyurethane reportedly exhibits good hydrolytic stability and exceptional acoustic properties while also being optically clear, 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.”