A Diode Laser Sensor for High Precision Measurement of Terrestrial CO2 Sources and Sinks

Not Available The painting, stripping, and repainting processes for existing aircraft account for 70-90% of the U.S. Air Force's generation of hazardous wastes and air pollution. The costs for paint repaint maintenance of aircraft range from ~$250,000 for a C-135 to ~$1 million for a C-5. Due to declining budgets, the Air Force expects that ~80% of the older aircraft will still be in the flight inventory to at least 2020. Aircraft replacement costs are on the order of $10 million to $100 million each. Therefore, there are strong incentives (and high payoff potential) to identify long-life coatings that provide high levels of protection so that the aircraft are not grounded prior to their desired retirement dates and, in addition, that significantly reduce the need for frequent painting/stripping/repainting and the associated maintenance costs. To meet this need a new durable primer system based on the combination of flexible epoxies and reactive fillers known as alumoxanes will be developed. The flexible epoxy primers will offer increased performance under adverse conditions in addition to greater service life. The flexible epoxies will be modified using tailored alumoxanes that will provide enhanced barrier properties, antioxidant protection and corrosion protection.