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New Paint Systems Help The Aerospace Industry Reach New Heights

The aerospace industry is constantly looking for ways to improve the appearance and reduce life cycle costs of both civilian and military aircraft. Paint systems made with LUMIFLON^® high durability fluoropolymer resins are offering aircraft manufacturers coatings that look good and maintain that outstanding appearance for the life of the coating.

Developed in 1982 by Asahi Glass, LUMIFLON^® is the first solvent-soluble fluoropolymer for coatings that can be cured at room temperature. Because of the strength of LUMIFLON’s^® Carbon-Fluorine (C-F) bonds and its unique chemical structure, these resins can effectively extend the life of the coating and increase its weatherability for years. The fluoropolymer’s durability and physical properties prevent erosion and corrosion from wind, water, oxygen, exhaust gases and even acid rain. Over the years, LUMIFLON^® resins have outperformed standard aerospace coatings on steel, aluminum, magnesium and plastics with a life up to five times that of acrylic urethanes. By using LUMIFLON^®-based coatings, airlines can reduce maintenance costs by as much as 50% over the life of the plane, in addition to substantially reducing the loss of revenue during scheduled repainting.

In designing the resin for use in aerospace coatings, both its molecular weight and hydroxyl value were controlled to achieve good appearance and good jet fuel resistance. In addition, the polymer structure was also adjusted to meet thermal shock resistance requirements in the temperature range of -50˚C to 80˚C.

Because LUMIFLON^® resins are thermoset resins (i.e., cured to form a coating that cannot be melted), they have no matting effect and offer a range of gloss as high as 90, making them perfectly suitable for aircraft. LUMIFLON^® fluoropolymer resins can be formulated to give coatings with a wide range of gloss, from matte finishes to high gloss. The LUMIFLON^® resin is also clear, making it completely compatible with a wide range of pigments and colors. Aircraft coated with the LUMIFLON^® resin typically require no repainting for at least eight years, maintaining outstanding appearance and a durable surface that allows for easy cleaning. In contrast, acrylic urethanes begin to fade and chalk after only three years and require repainting after five. LUMIFLON^® -based coatings are used for both military and commercial aerospace applications

With its alternating fluoroethylene and vinyl ether segments (FEVE), LUMIFLON^® polymers have a unique Carbon-Fluorine bond that is particularly suited to use in aerospace coatings. In test after test, LUMIFLON’s^® fluorinated segments give the coating outstanding durability. In fact, LUMIFLON^® resins not only exhibit superior UV stability, but also offer far better weather resistance, corrosion resistance, and chemical resistance than the industry standard.

LUMIFLON^® resins have been used worldwide to formulate aerospace coatings for both military and commercial aircraft. The fluoropolymer resins are offered in high solids solvent based products, but also come in environmentally friendly solid resins, allowing the formulation of low-VOC and HAPS-free coatings.

Clearly, LUMIFLON^® is the choice for leaders in the aerospace industry, offering superior durability, weatherability and longevity.