Thermoplastic Powder Coating

DEPOT MAINTENANCE PROJECT as of 940923

Type: E
Accession Number: 57580
Code: Active

Narrative:

In order to reduce the environmental/health hazards and the cost of disposing of the hazardous waste, the Air Force Corrosion Program Office is evaluating the new and promising coating and application technique of Thermoplastic Powder Coating (TPC). TPC is applied through flame spraying equipment. TPC has potential to replace some applications of inhibited epoxy promer and aliphatic polyurethane paint systems.

Status:

- TPC's have notable performance properties. TPC's exhibit excellant resistance to various chemicals, solvents, and regents. They should not be used in contact with chlorinated solvents, fuming or strong oxidizing acids, aromatic alcohols, or heterocyclic alheydes. They have also shown excellant abrasion resistance, good barrier qualities to prevent corrosion, and are environmentally compliant.
- Jun 94WR-ALC current efforts involve optimizing the spray nozzle for better coating applications and developing flameless techniques for coating with thermoplastic/thermoset powders.

Implementation Date: 1 Oct 1994
Initial Submission Date: 1994-06-01
Update Submission Date: 1994-07-14
Lead Service: Air Force
Key Words: Thermoplastic, Powder, Coatings
Point of Contact - Name: David Ellicks
Point of Contact - Organization: WR-ALC/TIEA
Point of Contact - Phone: DSN 468-3284
Lessons Learned: TPC flame spray application methods produce a simple, highly reliable, safe, environmentally compliant, single coat capability to augment the standard Air Force epoxy-polyurethane coating systems. TPC will also eliminate some requirements for several current maintenance operations, e.g., chemical conversion coatings, long paint drying times, air supply respirators, and expensive facilities. The need to convert from standard coating to thermoplastic/thermoset powder coatings is being driven by the requirement to reduce hazardous wastes, enhance personnel safety, provide a cleaner environment, and minimize coating facilities. A report on TPC's can be obtained from JDMAG or the project POC.