Demonstration/Validation of a Zero-VOC Waterborne Polyurethane Topcoat

摘要

Aircraft painting is a significant source of hazardous waste for the Department of Defense (DoD) and one of Naval aviation s top generators. The Tri- Service Environmental Quality R&D Strategic Plan (Pillar 3: Pollution Prevention, Requirement Thrust: 3.I.4.h: Non-Hazardous Aircraft Paints and Coatings) has identified the finding of replacement materials for painting operations as a high priority. Organic topcoats are the primary source of barrier-type protection against environmental degradation for Navy aircraft, weapon systems (WS) and support equipment (SE). In addition, these materials provide passive countermeasures against many enemy threats. There is a large number of different coating systems currently used by the Navy due to the diverse nature of their functions, the variety of substrates and alloys to which they are applied, and the severe nature of their operational environment. Unlike other DoD applications, Naval aviation topcoats must provide superior protection in a harsh environment with a thin barrier as to minimize weight for proper payload or operations. These coatings contain high volatile organic compound (VOC) contents; VOCs are released during painting operations as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). A solution to the problem of using high VOC topcoats has been found. This new topcoat incorporates resins based on novel polymer chemistries into its formulation. These resins are water-dispersible; no organic solvents (i.e. VOCs, HAPs) are necessary for viscosity reduction and subsequent spray application. The objective of this project was to transfer the zero-VOC topcoat technology information into the hands of future DoD users associated with the painting of military aircraft and ground support equipment.