October 2022 - Physical Sciences Inc.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a research program from the U.S. Army to develop and demonstrate vat polymerization capabilities with an ultra-violet (UV) curable energetic polymer binder that will be used to produce gun propellant grains.

Vat polymerization will present the opportunity for performance gains through highly engineered complex structures. Formulation trade studies demonstrate that PSI’s innovative energetic, printable binder can replace inert binders to improve thermodynamic energy in gun propellants.

Traditional gun propellants are produced by extrusion resulting in simple shapes such as perforated cylinders. Vat polymerization of gun propellants can reduce waste and minimize hazardous waste handling. Additionally, vat polymerization will increase performance by permitting complex structures. The target application for this technology is for the U.S. Army due to their need for extended range. However, this technology will benefit other branches of the military and other munition platforms needing an increase in range.

Additionally, research and development is needed to increase % solids in resin during vat polymerization for gun propellants. The techniques developed in this program to increase % solids can also be used to increase filler amount for commercial applications. Carbon black can be added to increase electrical conductivity and glass fibers can be added to increase mechanical strength in resins formed by vat polymerization. These techniques will support commercial applications for this technology.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Peter Warren
Executive Vice President, Materials Division
pwarren@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a program from the U.S. Army to develop a novel, safe and cost-effective processes for the commercial manufacture of a highly valuable ETPE (BAMO-AMMO) that is suitable for formulating advanced, high-performance materials.

The Army is in need of materials with high energy density to achieve the goal of extending the range of current and future precision fire munitions. One of the methods to increase overall performance of a propulsion system is the use of high energy thermoplastic elastomers (ETPEs). The current manufacturing processes prevent the ETPE from being affordable or manufactured with high throughput due to excessive reaction times and extensive workup and isolation. PSI’s novel process will use emergent technologies that will enable rapid, scalable and low-cost production.

The successful energetic polymeric material technology can be applied to various military applications that include propellants for large, medium caliber and small arms ammunitions. In addition, the technology will be further evaluated for commercial applications that include explosive and pyrotechnic compositions.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Peter Warren
Executive Vice President, Materials Division
pwarren@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in collaboration with Massachusetts Eye and Ear (MEE), and Joslin Diabetes Center (JDC), has been awarded a research program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a clinical tool able to routinely image retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and to characterize microglia spatial distribution and temporal dynamics in live human eyes using a label-free adaptive optics (AO) imaging approach for improved diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy (DR).

PSI has a long, successful history of developing and commercializing high-resolution retinal imagers for the ophthalmic research market that gives us a competitive advantage in developing and maturing this platform that enables routine clinical imaging of human subjects. The successful program and subsequent commercial development will provide clinicians with high performance retinal imaging for glaucoma and DR investigations at a lower cost and improved functionality superior to other non-AO retinal imagers. Early adaptors of this technology within the research community will grow our understanding of vision and its disruption by glaucoma and DR and will investigate the effects of new drugs and therapies. The ability to visualize ganglion and macrophage cells without fluorescent labeling in the human eye represents an important advance for both ophthalmology and neuroscience, which will lead to identification of novel disease biomarkers and new avenues of exploration in disease progression.

For more information, contact:

Mr. William Kessler
Vice President, Applied Optics
kessler@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in collaboration with a university, has been awarded a research program from the U.S. Army to create high energy density prepolymers, plasticizers, and curatives that enable Additive Manufacturing (AM) practices that are scalable.

The Army needs energetic formulations suitable for AM. One approach is to tailor energetic prepolymers and plasticizers to enable rapid curing. This would lower manufacturing costs, increase manufacturing throughput as well as increase the range and lethality of the system into which it is incorporated. To date, the problem with energetic polymers and additive manufacturing is existing polymers that are amenable to AM practices are not energetic, and the inert polymers that are amenable to AM suffer from poor mechanical properties and thermal stability.
PSI’s novel processes will use emergent technologies that will enable rapid, scalable and low-cost production. PSI will work with DoD primes to advance the TRL and transition the technology into commercial production.

If successful, high energy density polymer systems amenable for AM can be applied to various military applications that include propellants and explosives. This is also applicable to civilian applications such as the construction, mining, and space industries.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Peter Warren
Executive Vice President, Materials Division
pwarren@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003