Durable Rain Repellent Coatings for Aircraft Transparencies

Maintaining a high level of visibility through aircraft transparencies is very difficult under inclement operational conditions. This is an increased problem with the F35, which must land on aircraft carriers and do not possess windshield wipers to clear the canopies. There have been significant efforts with the development of hydrophobic and superhydrophobic coatings that will shed water quickly off of surfaces. Whereas many technologies and coatings have demonstrated the primary goal of achieving watershedding properties, they have lacked mechanical and environmental durability, or have been difficult or expensive to apply. Luna Innovations has demonstrated the use of a class of highly durable watershedding coatings, titled HARSH (Hard Abrasion Resistant SuperHydrophobic) for this application. Luna will further develop this transparent, hydrophobic, abrasion resistant coating developed in our laboratories for use on aircraft windscreens and canopies. The technology developed on this program will decrease life cycle costs, reduce maintenance, and increase the safety of Navy equipment and personnel.