Coatings World - December 2011

temperature extremes or with water immersion. The 800-260 UV cured coating provides protection to the printed circuit board or control board in temperature extremes of -70° to +200° C, is V1 fire rated and maintains excellent dielectric properties. Utilization of a UV curable coating such as 800-260 is superior to heat-cured conformal coatings for printed circuit board applications with significantly higher processing speeds and lower energy requirements than conventional baked oven curing systems. Further, a nitrogen blanket is not necessary during UV curing of the silicone coating since Novagard UV 800-260 cure system is not inhibited by oxygen such as UV curable acrylic coatings.

Aculon doubles its R&D
laboratory space
Aculon, Inc., a nanotechnology enabled
performance coatings company, has com-
pleted the expansion of the company’s re-
search and production laboratory space.
Started four months ago, the expansion of
Aculons laboratory facility on Sorrento
Valley Road in San Diego, Ca., effectively
doubles the amount of laboratory space
available for research and production of
cutting edge surface modification treat-
ments. The San Diego operation has been
a major center for surface modification re-
search since 2005, and since then has
grown and expanded its activities to in-
clude both research and production of Ac-
ulon’s proprietary technologies.

Federal Bureau of Prisons uses
Nansulate protective coatings
Industrial Nanotech, Inc., an emerging
global leader in nanoscience energy sav-
ing solutions, announced that the com-
pany’s Nansulate patented thermal
insulation and protective coatings are in
use by the United States’ Federal Bureau
of Prisons facilities. Applications for the
coatings include steam pipe insulation,
duct insulation and heat exchanger insu-
lation. The coatings are a nanotechnol-
ogy-based liquid form of insulation that
offers a cost effective environmentally re-
sponsible solution for reducing energy
costs said the company. Advantages for in-
sulation and surface protection include
low VOC, easy to apply, non-toxic and
cannot be torn and cause debris because
it is a clear coating that adheres directly
to the surface. Nansulate also provides
mold resistance, corrosion resistance and
ease of installation with a brush, roller or
paint sprayer.

Researchers develop a carbon
nanotube coating that makes
3D objects invisible

A carbon nanotube coating developed at the University of Michigan acts as a “magic black cloth” that conceals an object’s three-dimensional geometry and makes it look like a flat black sheet.

The 70-micron coating, or carbon nanotube carpet, is about half the thickness of a sheet of paper. It absorbs 99.9 percent of the light that hits it, researchers say.

“You could use it to completely hide any 3D attributes of an object,” said Jay Guo, a professor in the Department of

PPG Aerospace coatings capture colors of World War II bomber

SPPG Industries’ aerospace business has donated coatings used to repaint a B-26G Marauder bomber airplane now on display at the D-Day Museum at Utah Beach in Normandy, France. The aircraft honors a B- 26 flown by Maj. David Dewhurst Jr., father of current Texas Lt. Gov.

David Dewhurst.

The Marauder was repainted in preparation for its relocation from the Museum of Air and Space at Le Bourget Airport, Paris, to the Musée du Débarquement Utah Beach in Sainte Marie du Mont, France, where it is on permanent display in a new hangar. B- 26 Marauder bombers flew during the D-Day invasion of the Normandy beach during World War II.

According to Pierre Reguer, PPG Aerospace sales representative, Gonfreville, France, PPG Aerospace offered to provide the coatings to help the museum preserve the legendary aircraft for future generations.

“PPG Aerospace is privileged to participate in restoring this B- 26 Marauder and in honoring one of the pilots who fought so valiantly on D-Day,” Reguer said.

PPG donated a wash primer, which was used to prepare the aircraft surface for primer application, as well as primer and topcoat, which recreated the olive drab color and yellow markings of the original “Dinah Might” flown by Maj. Dewhurst.

A yellow stripe across the top of the tail identifies his aircraft as part of the U.S. Army Air Forces’ 386th Bombardment Group, while the letters “AN” on the rear of the fuselage signify the U.S. Army Air Forces’ 553rd Bombardment Squadron. The letter “Z” on the fuselage aided identification in flight, according to the B- 26 Marauder Historical Society. The serial number 41-31576 is painted on the tail, minus the “ 4” that started the sequence for all Marauders, according to the historical society. The original B- 26 flew 129 missions during the war before being lost in a raid on a supply depot in St. Wendel, Germany, on Nov. 18, 1944, according to the historical society and the Military Air Crash Report 10462.

Bombs painted on the cockpit attribute 85 aerial missions over enemy territory to Maj. Dewhurst, who returned to the United States on Aug. 31, 1944. Lt. Gov. Dewhurst helped to fund the preservation effort after learning his father had led a squadron of B- 26 Marauders on D-Day.

The repainted B-26G Marauder originally was assigned to the Free French Air Force and was sent to France on May 21, 1945, according to the historical society. It was repainted by STTS Group.