U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Sergio A. Gamboa

There will be a variety of technical sessions and short courses focused on Weapons Systems and Platforms research initiatives at the 2021 SERDP and ESTCP Symposium. Speakers will present on advancements in additive manufacturing, data analytics, aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) PFAS-free alternatives, sustainable coatings systems, sustainability analysis and machine learning to address Department of Defense (DoD) environmental challenges. Brief descriptions of the technical sessions and short courses in this research area are provided below.

Tuesday, November 30, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (ET)

Additive manufacturing technologies and dual-use applications of materials include energetics, metals, polymers, and ceramics among others. DoD sees additive manufacturing as a means of improving warfighter readiness and reducing logistics tails in the repair and replacement of essential parts and components. In this technical session, speakers will cover several aspects of additive manufacturing looking at the vast potential of this technology. View the full description, presentation titles and speaker information.

 

Tuesday, November 30, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM (ET)

This session will feature speakers exploring the application of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and neural networks to improve DoD operations in manufacturing environmentally friendly warfighting products and detecting and remediating unexploded ordnance. View the full description, presentation titles and speaker information.

 

Wednesday, December 1, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (ET)

AFFF has been used by the military since the 1970s for fire suppression and to extinguish liquid fuel fires in aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicles. This technical session will provide details on the performance of PFAS-free alternatives, including research on recently developed novel surfactants at the laboratory scale as well as commercially available products demonstrated against representative large-scale fires. View the full description, presentation titles and speaker information.

 

Wednesday, December 1, 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM (ET)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Paint Technology Technical Center of Expertise (PTCx) is the certified subject matter expert in coatings for USACE. The PTCx is the only functioning coatings laboratory within the DoD that specifically addresses infrastructure. This technical session will review the PTCx as a center and highlight active projects on coating removal, surface preparation and coating formulation that provide holistic approaches to corrosion mitigation. View the full description, presentation titles and speaker information.

 

Thursday, December 2, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (ET)

This technical session will cover on-site technologies that destroy waste materials in an efficient and environmentally safe manner and minimize the demand for external fuels. View the full description, presentation titles and speaker information.

 

Thursday, December 2 and Friday, December 3

The following Weapons Systems and Platforms short courses will be offered. To learn more about each course, visit the Symposium website.

  • Applications of Machine Learning and other Computational Methods
  • ZnNi Brush Plating and Brush Anodizing (Repair of Cd and ZnNi)
  • Emerging Regulatory Trends – Potential Impacts of TSCA and REACH to the DoD Mission
  • Sustainability Analysis: Capturing Life Cycle Costs and Impacts in Defense Acquisition

The 2021 Symposium will offer 20 technical sessions, several short courses, over 400 technical posters, and a variety of networking opportunities. We look forward to connecting researchers and technology developers with the defense end-user and regulatory communities to showcase innovative environmental solutions.