High Temperature Camouflage Coating for 700 degF and 1200 degF Surfaces of Advanced Aircraft

Traditional camouflage coatings contain low gloss pigments in polymer-based binder resins that degrade at temperatures above 250°F and future Mach>3 aircraft surfaces may reach temperatures approaching 1200°F. Foster-Miller proposes to develop a MIL-SPC-85285-compliant, dual use, high temperature camouflage coating (HTCC) system that comes in two different forms - a high temperature polymer-based HTCC for use on 700°F aircraft surfaces and a self-healing, fusible, preceramic polymer-derived HTCC for use on 1200°F surfaces. Thermally-stable camouflage pigments, capable of meeting FED-STD-595 color code, will be combined with high temperature resin and fusible glass binder precursor solutions to produce the HTCC coating solution for each use-temperature. These low viscosity precursor solutions will be spray-applied to the appropriate regions of the aircraft surface and then cured at elevated temperatures to form the HTCC. An engine run will be used to generate the appropriate temperature on each respective hot zone surface for coating cure. In Phase I, Foster-Miller will demonstrate performance and thermal stability for thermally stable camouflage pigments as well as the 700°F and 1200°F use temperature HTCCs. The Foster-Miller team includes a high temperature polymer resin supplier, a preceramic polymer and sol-gel glass expert and an aircraft company. (P-040158)