NOVEL MARINE PAINTS WITH ICE PHOBIC PROPERTIES

A CONTINUING PROBLEM FACING THE NAVY IS ICE ACCRETION ON SURFACE SHIP ANTENNA SYSTEMS OPERATING IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS AND THE NORTH ATLANTIC. ICE ACCRETION CAN HAVE A SEVERE EFFECT ON THE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY OF TOP SIDE SYSTEMS INCLUDING ANTENNAS FOR RADAR AND COMMUNICATIONS. COATINGS CURRENTLY IN USE ARE EXPENSIVE, DEGRADE EASILY AND CAN BE DIFFICULT TO APPLY. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PRESENT EXPLORATORY WORK IS TO REVIEW PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS AND GOALS OF INNOVATIVE ICE PHOBIC COATINGS AS WELL AS TO DESIGN AND DEVELOP INITIAL FORMULATION OF NEW MATERIAL COATINGS AND EXPULSION SYSTEMS, CONSTRUCT SAMPLES AND TEST FOR PROOF-OF-CONCEPT FOR THESE MATERIALS. THE PROPOSING COMPANY HAS DONE WORK IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NON VOC POLYMER MATERIALS FOR CORROSION, ABRASION, CHEMICAL AGENT, QUICK WATER RELEASE AND MECHANICAL FAILURE RESISTANCE FOR NAVY APPLICATIONS AS WELL WORK IN SIGNATURE REDUCTION. INNOVATIVE CORROSION RESISTANT MATERIALS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED THROUGH RESEARCH AT FUZETRON THAT SURVIVE IN DIVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL, CHEMICAL, AND ULTRAVIOLET EXPOSURE WHILE DEMONSTRATING ADHESION AND EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE FOR NAVY USE.