Open Call for Innovative Defense-Related Dual-Purpose Technologies/Solutions with a Clear Air Force Stakeholder Need

Secondary power system components such as gearboxes are de-painted each year as part of routine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities. Current paint removal processes involve soaking the parts in a toxic chemical solvent, followed by media blasting. The chemicals and blast media are expensive, and the time required to complete a depainting operation with this process is typically on the order of several hours, depending on paint condition, part size, geometry, etc. As media blasting is a line of sight process, this process is particularly challenging on the complex geometries of gearboxes, which often necessitates manual operation of the blasting tool, adding to the cost and increasing potential of damaging the component. The cost of the depainting operation to the Secondary Power Systems group of the USAF has been estimated at several million dollars per year, with most of the cost being labor and consumable blast media. In the Phase I SBIR program, IBC developed a system demonstration and validation plan that will lead to eventual pilot-scale implementation at a USAF depot. A preliminary business case analysis showed potential to reduce de-paint cost by 30-50%, and eliminate environmental hazards associated with current paint removal processes.