VOC-Free, Waterborne Flexible Primers for Aircraft Maintenance

A VOC-free, non-chromated flexible primer is proposed for protecting highly flexed aluminum aircraft components in the corrosive marine environment. Aqueous dispersions of elastomeric resins stabilized with novel modifiers and pigmented with non-toxicanticorrosive agents will be used to formulate primers with excellent adhesion to aircraft structures, low temperature flexibility and exceptional corrosion inhibition. The proposed research seeks to further develop and refine a novel coating bindertechnology developed in our laboratory for a VOC-free, non-chromate flexible primer system that meets the current TT-P-2760 specification. The proposed anticorrosion formulations, although waterborne, will readily form low permeability films and adherestrongly without the need for pre-coat priming. The new flexible primers will be designed to allow application with conventional paint spraying equipment. The development of new multi-function polymeric additives should significantly improve theformulation stability and reduce water sensitivity of the resulting primer coatings. The VOC-free coatings will be tested against conventional solventborne flexible primers for adhesion and corrosion inhibition in accordance with TT-P-2760. The abilityto form adherent, highly flexible and durable barrier coatings over non-ferrous metals without the need for volatile organic solvent dilution would represent a significant advancement in corrosion engineering and aerospace maintenance technology.