Poly(2,5-bis(N-Methyl- N-Hexylamino)Phenylene Vinylene) (BAM-PPV) as Pretreatment Coating for Aerospace Applications: Laboratory and Field Studies

Peter Zarras; Diane Buhrmaster; Cindy Webber; Nicole Anderson; John D Stenger-Smith; Paul A Goodman

doi:10.3390/ma7128088

Poly(2,5-bis(N-Methyl- N-Hexylamino)Phenylene Vinylene) (BAM-PPV) as Pretreatment Coating for Aerospace Applications: Laboratory and Field Studies

Materials (Basel). 2014 Dec 17;7(12):8088-8104. doi: 10.3390/ma7128088.

Authors

Peter Zarras¹, Diane Buhrmaster², Cindy Webber³, Nicole Anderson⁴, John D Stenger-Smith⁵, Paul A Goodman⁶

Affiliations

¹ Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), Polymer Science & Engineering Branch (Code 4L4200D), 1900 N. Knox Road (Stop 6303), China Lake, CA 93555, USA. peter.zarras@navy.mil.
² Air Force Research Laboratory/Logistics Systems Support Branch Coatings Technology Integration Office, UDRI Contractor Support, Bldg 1661, Rm C-110, Wright-Patterson AFB, University of Dayton Research Institute, Nonstructural Materials Division, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469, USA. diane.buhrmaster.ctr@us.af.mil.
³ Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), Polymer Science & Engineering Branch (Code 4L4200D), 1900 N. Knox Road (Stop 6303), China Lake, CA 93555, USA. cynthia.webber@navy.mil.
⁴ Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), Polymer Science & Engineering Branch (Code 4L4200D), 1900 N. Knox Road (Stop 6303), China Lake, CA 93555, USA. nicole.anderson@navy.mil.
⁵ Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), Polymer Science & Engineering Branch (Code 4L4200D), 1900 N. Knox Road (Stop 6303), China Lake, CA 93555, USA. john.stenger-smith@navy.mil.
⁶ Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), Polymer Science & Engineering Branch (Code 4L4200D), 1900 N. Knox Road (Stop 6303), China Lake, CA 93555, USA. paul.goodman@navy.mil.

Abstract

In this study, an electroactive polymer (EAP), poly(2,5-bis(N-methyl-N-hexylamino)phenylene vinylene) (BAM-PPV) was investigated as a potential alternative surface pretreatment for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI))-based aerospace coatings. BAM-PPV was tested as a pretreatment coating on an aerospace aluminum alloy (AA2024-T3) substrate in combination with a non-Cr(VI) epoxy primer and a polyurethane Advanced Performance Coating (APC) topcoat. This testing was undertaken to determine BAM-PPV's adhesion, corrosion-inhibition, compatibility and survivability in laboratory testing and during outdoor field-testing. BAM-PPV showed excellent adhesion and acceptable corrosion performance in laboratory testing. The BAM-PPV aerospace coating system (BAM-PPV, non-Cr(VI) epoxy primer and polyurethane APC topcoat) was field tested for one year on the rear hatch door of the United States Air Force C-5 cargo plane. After one year of field testing there was no evidence of delamination or corrosion of the BAM-PPV aerospace coating system.

Keywords: accelerated weathering tests; field studies; hexavalent chromium (CrVI); passivation; poly(2,5-bis(N-methyl-N-hexylamino)phenylene vinylene) (BAM-PPV).