Advanced Nonskid Coating System for Mobile Airfield Landing Mats

The Marine Corps AM2 mat is a key component to the Marine Corps Expeditionary Airfield concept. These mats are robust and able to withstand tailhook impact and the landing loads imposed by aircraft even when installed over marginal soil conditions. The current coating needs frequent replacement due to wear or breakdown from the environment. Very importantly, the coating is required to withstand continued VTOL jet blast, which can sustain temperatures near 800 °F and occasionally spike to 1000 °F (for 0.2 second). This proposal summarizes work to be performed in the adaptation, testing and evaluation of TRI's Tough Gripä nonskid coating to Marine landing strip use. This new non-skid coating, developed for aircraft carrier flight decks contains no added volatile organic compounds or other materials restricted by military environmental requirements, it is highly flame and impact resistant and has survived over 13,000 landings in battlefield conditions. A selected sample of modifications to this product will increase its tolerance to the conditions of VTOL engine exhaust.