Polysulfide Modified Epoxy Novolac Cladding for Steel Immersion/Splash Zone Service

Many commercial-off-the-shelf solvent-borne epoxy-based paints have been previously approved for use in submarine applications. Typically, these coatings are spray applied and the non-skid aggregate is broadcast over the paint prior to cure. Failures frequently occur and are due to poor match of thermal expansion due to the nature of the substrates, such as the submarine special hull treatment. During Phase II, TRI will formulate and test new nonskid coatings specifically designed for submarine use. Accelerated life testing will be used to characterize coating performance under simulated long-term service conditions. Repair methods and a repair kit will be developed. A field test patch will be installed on an active Navy submarine for fleet performance testing. Non-skid coating performance is also ranked among the top five issues being addressed by PEO Carriers. As part of Phase II, TRI will demonstrate that an environmentally benign, VOC free, ultra high durability (UHD) non-skid system can be scaled up for production, applied to a full aircraft carrier landing area, and demonstrate superior performance during a full deployment. This will extend the results previously obtained via 1000 square foot test patches, and ready the nonskid coating for immediate Phase III transition into the fleet.