Development of Adhesives for Wet Bonding of Navy Substrates

US Navy submarines are covered with rubber-based tiles for reducing acoustic signatures. However, these acoustic tiles fall off the boats, owing to persistent adhesive failures. Efforts here begin with a promising biomimetic adhesive polymer, poly (catechol-styrene). The polymer needed for these studies shall be synthesized and characterized. A minimum of three new formulations of this polymer shall be generated and tested under several conditions.