A new "green" exterior aircraft painting system in development by
PPG Industries' (NYSE:PPG)
aerospace coatings business has shown corrosion resistance comparable to processes
using chromated pretreatment and primers as well as easier application than
for alternative environmentally responsible systems.
The PPG Aerospace chromate-free depaint/repaint process includes a new exterior
epoxy primer based on nanotechnology and an adhesion promoter PPG manufactures
under license from Boeing, according to Alan Schoeder, PPG Aerospace commercial
coatings global segment manager.
“In salt spray and filiform corrosion testing, metal surfaces protected
by new Desoprime HS CA 7502 high-solids exterior epoxy primer showed the same
corrosion resistance as those coated with chromated primers,” Schoeder
said. The PPG Aerospace environmentally-responsible primer is expected to be
qualified this year at Boeing, he added.
Eldorado Adhesion Promoter (EAP-9) uses Boeing’s proven Boegel technology
that PPG has licensed, Schoeder said, enabling PPG to offer airframe manufacturers
and third-party painters an easy-to-use, competitively-priced conversion coating.
“EAP-9 is applied to the stripped aluminum airframe and allowed to dry,
and then Desoprime HS CA 7502 primer is applied,” Schoeder said. “With
a chromated process, the chemical has to be rinsed off, putting hazardous material
into the rinse water. Unlike another chromate-free conversion coating, only
one application is needed with EAP-9, and no mechanical abrading is required.”
When EAP-9 is used with Eldorado corrosion remover and brightener EAC-8, resulting
metal-corrosion resistance is similar to resistance achieved through processes
using chromated chemicals, Schoeder said.
“PPG Aerospace will be offering a complete, easy-to-apply, green depaint/repaint
coatings system that meets the rigors of the exterior aerospace environment,”
Schoeder said.
PPG Aerospace is the aerospace products and services business of PPG Industries.
PPG Aerospace &ndash PRC-DeSoto is the leading global producer and distributor
of aerospace coatings, sealants, and packaging and application systems. PPG
Aerospace &ndash Transparencies is the world’s largest supplier of
aircraft windshields, windows and canopies.