Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine - May/June 2023 - 34

PAINT AND COATINGS MANUFACTURING: AEROSPACE
" We're always looking at ways to help our customers meet
sustainability and performance goals, " says Peffer. " We have
qualified chrome free primers to replace chromated primers
in the commercial, aftermarket and military markets. Our
AEROCRON electrocoat primer is a waterborne, chrome
free technology that is applied electrically in a bath instead
of traditional spray application methods. It has a transfer
efficiency of more than 95 per cent, compared to spray
applications (50 per cent), and it's also lighter weight. "
AkzoNobel also develops non-chrome and chromate-free
technologies that help with reducing aircraft weight, improve
fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. " And we're going
further. As the materials used to manufacture airplanes has
evolved from aluminum to lightweight advanced composite
systems, so too must our coatings, " says Kokkinen. " As such,
we are working closely with our OEM partners to develop the
coatings of the future that are compatible with the substrates
and processes needed. "
Kokkinen adds that AkzoNobel has heavily invested in
the development of its film capabilities, which alongside
its powder and liquid paints enable the company to further
protect and enhance the interior and exterior of the airplane
structure.
In December 2022, BASF announced a partnership with
Luthansa Technik, in which they developed a drag-reducing
riblet film designed to help airlines save fuel and reduce
emissions. This film modification, called AeroSHARK,
was approved for and applied on two Boeing 777 aircrafts
operated by Swiss International Airline for testing. The film,
which is manually applied, reduces the frictional resistance
Kokkinen adds that AkzoNobel has heavily
invested in the development of its film capabilities,
which alongside its powder and liquid paints
enable the company to further protect and
enhance the interior and exterior of the airplane
structure.
of the aircraft skin. As a result, the fuel consumption and C02
emissions are reduced by about one per cent. For the Boeing
777-300ER aircraft it was applied on, the Swiss airline will
save around 40 tons of kerosene and more than 1,200 tons of
carbon dioxide annually.
" The surface structure consists of riblets measuring around
50 micrometers imitates the properties of sharkskin and
therefore optimises the aerodynamics on flow-related parts
of the aircraft, " says Joerg Zumkley, global communication
for BASF coatings. " Due to different sizes, the film and the
application is tailormade for each type of aircraft and needs
to be certified afterwards. There is also a difference between
passenger and cargo aircraft due to the window rows. We
intend to continue developing this technology to include
additional aircraft types and even larger surfaces. "
Paint and coatings manufacturers are also well known for
partnering with OEMs and airline companies to engage them
further with design and colour development and application
processes. PPG recently announced a collaboration with
34
www.cfcm.ca
http://www.cfcm.ca
Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine - May/June 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine - May/June 2023
