THE BIODEGRADATION OF POLYURETHANE PAINT

RECENT WORK IN THE FIELD OF BIODEGRADATION INDICATES THAT EXISTING HAZARDOUS AND COSTLY PROCEDURES COULD BE REPLACED BY MICROBIAL TECHNIQUES. MICROBIAL DEGRADATION IS SAFER AND TARGET SELECTIVE AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH COMPLICATED GEOMETRIES, NON-LINEAR SURFACES, ARE ELIMINATED. THE AIR FORCE PAINT PRODUCT LINE, MANUFACTURED BY COMPANIES SUCH AS DEFT AND DESOTO ARE WATER-THINNED, POLYURETHANE SYSTEMS THAT DO NOT CONTAIN FUNGICIDES AND BACTERICIDES. IT IS TECHNICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES' BELIEF THAT THESE PAINTS CAN BE PENETRATED BY BACTERIA AND SAFELY REMOVED FROM THE ALUMINUM AND TITANIUM ALLOYS AS WELL AS OTHER CARBON FIBER OR COMPOSITE MATERIALS.