Coatings in the aerospace industry play a critical role in ensuring the safety of aircraft. Structural component coatings help protect the backbone of an aircraft from corrosion. These coatings must perform safely for up to 30 years, and failure to do so puts lives at risk. As such, the EU has granted extensions to the REACH regulations for the use of anti-corrosion paints on structural components.
The primary purpose of coatings in the aerospace industry is to prevent wear and corrosion. This is because corrosion on expensive equipment can lead to failure, which can have major safety and economic implications. For example, in the 1988 crash of the Aloha Airline flight, the fuselage detached and killed one person and injured eight. This happened due to a build-up of crevice corrosion on the fuselage. This occurred because the epoxy coating did not adhere well to the surface, allowing moisture to collect and speed up corrosion.
Coatings for the aerospace industry have to meet very specific standards and requirements. This means that every new coating is put through a rigorous research process and laboratory testing. This ensures that the new coating will stand up to real-world conditions. A good coating will be corrosion resistant, which increases the lifespan of the component and its overall economic efficiency. Moreover, coatings in the aerospace industry must be extremely durable and resistant to extreme impact. For more information on the role of HVOF, visit www.poeton.co.uk/standard-treatments/plasma-coatings
Aerospace coatings are often made of polyurethane. The coatings are generally applied at a dry film thickness of two to three mils, though some OEMs apply them at a higher coating thickness.
Paints used in the aerospace industry have a wide range of properties. Some of them are very durable and resistant to ultraviolet light, which makes them a great choice for aircraft. They also reduce the amount of re-painting that an aircraft must undergo. Moreover, they improve the appearance of aircraft by allowing aircraft manufacturers to differentiate themselves from their competitors.
The aerospace industry contributes a significant share to the overall growth of the coatings market. It is expected to continue contributing to the growth of the industry for several years to come. Additionally, the need for coatings in the aerospace industry will increase as aircrafts continue to become more advanced.
Hardness testing is an important part of the evaluation of coatings in the aerospace industry. This type of hardness testing measures the strength and toughness of the coatings on aircraft parts. A hard coat anodized coating is very hard and offers a high level of corrosion protection. In addition, this type of coating is also lubricious. These qualities are essential for the safety and integrity of aircraft parts.
