PPG Aerospace shows latest technology in transparencies, coatings at Paris Air Show
PPG is the only manufacturer supplying transparencies as well as coatings – virtually the entire exterior surface of an aircraft – to the aviation industry. Officials of PPG and PRC-DeSoto International, PPG's aerospace coatings and sealants company, are available to discuss the technologies that are increasing product performance for reduced cost of operation by airlines.
PPG's display is in hall 2B, stand H1, during the air show at Le Bourget Airport through June 24.
"Integrating PPG's PRC-DeSoto coatings and sealants acquisition with our aircraft transparencies business has given us the ability to better focus on PPG's aerospace market and use our total resources to bring additional value to our customers," said Dennis A. Kovalsky, vice president, aerospace.
"In addition to our strong technical organizations, we have now also expanded our service capabilities through our global network of application support centers (ASCs)," Kovalsky said. "This ability to provide both outstanding products and service is the formula required by our customers, and we are positioned better than ever to meet this challenge."
Kovalsky said that PPG's Paris Air Show display highlights PPG Aerospace's transparencies, coatings and sealants supplied to European commercial and military aircraft manufacturers, while also showing product and service capabilities for global operators.
Transparencies
Transparencies on display demonstrate PPG's ability to meet the varying needs for commercial, regional jet and military aircraft with glass, acrylic and polycarbonate materials as well as protective coatings.
PPG aircraft transparencies displayed include:
- Commercial aircraft: Cockpit windows for the Airbus widebody aircraft A300, A310, A330 and A340, and the main windshield for the narrowbody Airbus aircraft A318, A319, A320 and A321.
- Military aircraft: The bird-impact-resistant laminated polycarbonate windshield for the F-5 A, B, E and F fighter models, which has PPG's proprietary 5300 self-healing protective liner.
- Regional aircraft: The main windshield for the new Bombardier Aerospace CRJ900 Series aircraft, comprising three plies of chemically strengthened Herculite II glass. It is the same design as that for Bombardier's CRJ200 and CRJ700 Series regional jets.
- PPG's technology for rebuilding glass-laminated transparencies is demonstrated in "before" and "after" rebuild main windshields for Boeing 727 and 737 aircraft.
- Plastic transparencies: PPG's Ampaspace subsidiary, in Casaletto Vaprio, Italy, near Milan, provides the global aviation market with sophisticated acrylic passenger-cabin windows. Ampaspace units on display include an Airbus narrowbody cabin window and those with the PPG SolGard protective coating for the Boeing 717 as well as Bombardier CRJ700 and CRJ900 Series regional jets.
Coatings and sealants
The PRC-DeSoto display focuses on the company's ability to provide the aerospace industry's most comprehensive range of products for sealing and coating the interior and exterior of aircraft structures.
- Desothane HS top coat: PRC-DeSoto displays an aircraft wing finished with Desothane HS polyurethane top coat, the company's flagship aerospace coating that is the only high solids, low VOC (volatile organic compound) coating approved by both Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group and Airbus Industrie.
- Desoprime primer systems: The aircraft wing also shows PRC-DeSoto's Desoprime high-solids, low VOC epoxy primer.
- Sealants: The aircraft wing also demonstrates PR-1776 lightweight sealants, which are qualified and used by both Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group and Airbus Industrie. The sealants are 20 percent lighter than conventional manganese-cured polysulphides, enabling airframe manufacturers to save up to 200 pounds (90 kilos) per aircraft.
- For military applications, the company is announcing qualification of coatings and sealants to meet specifications of the Eurofighter Typhoon, launch of Desothane CA8300 top coat for military aircraft and vehicles, and success with an environmentally friendly camouflage coating for military aircraft and land vehicles.
- Semco packaging and application systems: A display of Semco packaging and application systems demonstrates PRC-DeSoto's creative packaging concepts and dispensing systems for adhesives, sealants and coatings that are designed to increase productivity, reduce waste, minimize operator exposure to chemicals, and provide environmental, health and safety benefits.
PPG is the world's largest manufacturer of aircraft windshields, windows and canopies, and its PRC-DeSoto unit is a global leader in aerospace coatings and sealants. PPG also is a worldwide supplier of glass, coatings, fiber glass and chemicals.
Source: PPG Aerospace