Performance of Multifunctional UV (MUV) Curable Corrosion Coating Systems to Aerospace Military Test Criteria

    A coating system incorporating corrosion inhibiting compounds into an ultraviolet (UV) light curable polymeric matrix, referred to as multifunctional UV (MUV), has been developed. The system has been evaluated using high strength aluminum alloys commonly used on military aircraft. The MUV coatings were deposited on test panels with chromate or cerium based conversion coatings.  The coating systems were evaluated using military performance criteria for tests including neutral salt spray testing, wet and dry adhesion testing, fluid resistance, sulfur dioxide exposure, accelerated weathering, filiform corrosion, and flexibility testing. Commercially available chromate and non-chromate corrosion coating systems on high strength aluminum panels were used as control references. Results indicate that the MUV coatings are capable of passing 3000 hour salt spray testing using a variety of oligomers on both chromate and cerium based conversion coatings, with more consistent performance observed on chromate conversion coatings. The thickness and condition of the cerium based conversion coatings affected performance test results, with thinner conversion coatings typically performing better than thicker coatings. Adjustment of MUV composition to optimize performance will be discussed.