120 DEG C Cure, Durable, Corrosion Protection Powder Coatings for Temperature Sensitive Substrates

In a 2-year program, a team comprised of large and small private industry (GE Global Research and Crosslink Powder Coatings, Inc.), DoD (NavAir and U.S. Air Force), DoE (Honeywell, KCP) has developed a low temperature curing powder coating for temperature sensitive substrates. The coating cure requirement is at or below 120 C within 30 minutes. This is dictated by the temperature sensitive nature of aluminum alloys that are used in several types of military equipment. Due to their heat treatment, prolonged exposure to temperatures above 120 C can compromise the structural integrity of these materials. Specifically, this powder coating has been designed for use on chromate pretreated, T3-annealed, 2024-grade aluminum. The primary application target for this effort is ground support equipment. The solution concurrently meets all performance criteria for an exterior durable, corrosion protection coating while offering the added benefits of zero solvent emissions and corrosion resistance without use of chromates in the coating itself. GE has led the program and applied its polymer chemistry, reaction catalysis, and powder coating expertise to address the need for a VOC-free, non-toxic, non-hazardous coating. The team has developed novel formulation chemistries, catalyst systems, and complete powder formulations, and has tested conformance to property requirements and demonstrated compatibility with existing field repair techniques. The original document contains color images.