Multisource Maritime Surveillance

The objective of this SBIR project is to investigate and develop the capability for the removal of appliqu¿ from Navy aircraft. Appliqu¿ coatings are basically coated adhesive sheets and have been experimented with as an alternative to sprayed organiccoatings but have proven to be difficult to remove using an environmentally acceptable process. Appliqu¿ coatings have been used and tested on the F-18 having adhered under Mach 1 plus conditions, and is being experimented with on the JSF. Appliqu¿coatings are environmentally friendly as an alternative to paints, but the removal process is not environmentally safe. Currently, the appliqu¿ is removed using large quantities of solvents such as methyl ethyl ketone to soften the adhesive on the back ofthe appliqu¿, which generates a large amount of volatile organic compounds. LANCORP has successfully removed an appliqu¿ sample using its diode laser stripping method. Our approach is to build upon this success by demonstrating diode laser ability toremove appliqu¿ and then by designing a full-scale system for rapid removal from aircraft surfaces. LANCORP has demonstrated the ability of diode lasers, over other types of lasers, to strip and clean aircraft coatings in an efficient, controllable andcost-effective mannerEffective implementation of laser de-coating technology offers the following benefits: reduced environmental impact from elimination of the use of hazardous chemicals and reduction of solid waste generated for disposal, reduced healthand safety risks due to the elimination of exposure to hazardous chemicals and de-coating residues (e.g., dust from dry abrasive blasting operations.), decreased operating costs due to reduced labor, materials use, damaged parts, and waste disposal costs,enhanced capability to apply advanced coating systems, such as electrocoats and powdercoats, since the process in essence