Paints for Aerospace Applications

Abstract

Paints are important for aerospace applications in view of appearance, surface protection, and as stealth coatings. Paints are generally applied as a scheme involving primer-coats and top-coats for achieving ultimate protection. The satisfactory performance of paint coatings throughout the service life of an aircraft depends on many aspects. The present chapter discusses these paint aspects under the following topics: importance for aerospace applications; selection for aerospace applications; application areas in military aircraft; special functional paints; the properties, testing and analysis of paints; ageing of paints; airworthiness certification of paints; volatile organic compounds regulations; and paint monitoring. Some important new developments of paints are also discussed.