Soiling, Cleaning, and Weathering Effects on Aircraft Polyurethane Topcoats
Abstract
The synergetic effects of weathering, soiling, and cleaning on Navy aircraft polyurethane topcoats has been investigated. Three lusterless, low gloss, coatings matching Federal Standard 595 color 36320, a gray color with a 32% reflectance, were studied. Two of the coatings qualify under MIL-C-83286, Coating, Urethane, Aliphatic Isocyanate for Aerospace Application, which is the standard topcoat used on U.S. Navy aircraft. The third coating contains polymer bead pigments and is applied to production F-18 aircraft. Color change of the polyurethane topcoats during weathering and weathering/cleaning conditions was negligible. Color change when specimens were weathered, soiled, and cleaned was significant, especially for low gloss topcoats. However, polymer bead coatings of equivalent gloss(1.1)to conventionally pigmented camouflage coatings performed better, undergoing less color change. None of the three exposure conditions significantly changed the gloss of the coatings analyzed. However, all three exposure conditions caused the coatings surface to become more hydrophilic. Topcoats which were weathered and weathered/cleaned were more cleanable after soiling than their unexposed counterparts because of their hydrophilic surface. Weathering caused slight erosion and chalking of the polyurethane topcoat surfaces. Periodic cleaning of weathered specimens removes part of this eroded surface and provides a slightly restoring effect.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA197302
Entities
People
- Charles R. Hegedus
- Donald J. Hirst
Organizations
- Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster