Suppressed fire improves communication and operational tempo during a firefight. They also protect against hearing damage that can occur during routine training operations. Suppressors are expensive, and if not maintained, their performance can rapidly degrade. When this project started, there was no systematic method to clean a sealed firearm suppressor to both extend its lifetime and maintain its performance. TDA Research developed and patented a method to clean and maintain suppressors so that their lifetime can be extended and their performance sustained. The cleaning process does not damage or compromise suppressors, and it minimizes the creation of hazardous waste. Regular maintenance with our cleaner extends the lifetime of suppressors by reducing the accumulation of fouling and by cleaning the connection surfaces to the firearm. Cleaning the connection prevents poor alignment of the suppressor and carbon-welding to the barrel.
TDA is a technology development company that designs a variety of materials and systems, including catalysts and sorbents. We have developed an electrocatalyst which reduces the platinum loading for use in electrolyzers to generate breathing oxygen onboard submarines. By using TDA’s novel carbon supports we can reduce the precious metal content by a factor of ten compared to the electrocatalysts currently in use within the Navy and proportionally reduce the cost, while maintaining the same activity and system performance. Our technology’s advantage is in its cost, which targets a significant cost reduction per electrolysis cell stack correlating to savings on the order of magnitude of $100K's per unit and millions of dollars in total to the Navy. We have performed rigorous testing in house and have also had samples tested by our collaborator Nel, a leader in the production of electrolyzers. We are currently looking for a Navy customer to fund environmental qualification testing of an electrolysis cell stack utilizing this novel catalyst, which will allow for realization of the significant acquisition cost savings to NAVSEA.
The Navy needs an innovative material to replace the current Explosion Suppression Foam (ESF) that weighs less and displaces less fuel. Navy aircraft that can benefit from improved ESF include the H-1 attack and H-53 heavy lift helicopters and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. TDA Research, Inc. (TDA), a manufacturer of advanced materials for aerospace and the military, is developing improved ESFs that will allow military aircraft to carry more fuel for extended flight range and enhanced mission capabilities. Our foams provide a dramatic improvement compared to current ESFs and exceed the requirements for explosion suppression. In Phase III we will complete validation and verification and transition the technology for implementation of existing Navy air vehicle fuel tanks. TDA will produce the ESF material in-house.
TDA Research, Inc. (TDA) has developed a moisture stable igniter formulation for Navy countermeasure flares. TDA’s novel igniter has been shown to be up to 90% more stable to degradation in high humidity conditions than the current igniter formulations and is thus more reliably ignited when exposed to moisture. The moisture stable igniter formulation has energetic properties that are comparable to the current Navy igniter, with no loss in performance when substituted in Navy hardware. The formulation can be used as a drop-in replacement for the current Navy igniter and is relatively similar in cost. TDA is a small technology manufacturing, research and development company in Wheat Ridge, Colorado and intends to manufacture and supply the igniter formulation directly to the Navy and other customers.
The goal of the Forward Resuscitative Surgical Station (FRSS) is to save both “life and limb”. During operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, USMC FRSS units identified a need for an oxygen generating system that is rugged, portable and uses less power than current capabilities. TDA Research, a technology developer that provides innovative solutions, has developed the Expeditionary Portable Oxygen Generator System (EPOGS) that meets all the requirements identified in MIL-STD-810G. Our system is lighter, uses less energy, produces more oxygen than current models which will increase the survival rate of Marines’ due to life threatening wounds. A world leader in providing superior technological solutions to the DoD and other government agencies, TDA is looking to partner with similar like-minded organizations.
Naval aircraft currently rely on lithium-ion batteries, but as energy demands continue to increase, there is a need for even higher energy density batteries. TDA Research develops aerospace and military hardware as well as manufactures advanced materials and currently is developing novel cathode materials for Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Our cutting edge research shows Li-S batteries offer the promise of twice the specific energy of lithium-ion batteries, but because of limitations with the cathode material, the cycle life is too low. Prototype cells using TDA cathodes show high specific energy densities and long cycle life. Our goal is to develop Li-S batteries based on our cathode materials and when successful, the Navy could replace lithium-ion batteries with Li-S batteries, significantly improving SWaP constraints.
