SBIR-STTR Award

Sate of the art aircraft composite and coating technology are not electrically conductive and may allow for a dangerous electrical charge buildup and may fail to protect from lightning strikes. Current epoxy composites used in aircraft such as the V-22 Osprey require a metal mesh to be embedded in the composite. This mesh makes repairs very difficult. Other solutions such as metallic nanoparticles are also not ideal as they are heavy and may promote galvanic corrosion. A conductive coating may eliminate the need for an embedded mesh. This coating would be applied by common painting techniques such as high-pressure low volume (hplv) systems and others as required by the customer. This system will be easy to apply, maintain, and repair when necessary. Electrical conductivity in aircraft coatings is required for a safe, efficient, lightweight aircraft. Aircraft coatings emphasize longevity, but do not attempt to improve its ability to conduct electricity. Our unique method allows us to create an optimal solution to improve the conductivity of aircraft coatings, resulting in a substantial increase in safety, performance, corrosion resistance and longevity. The notable result is a coating that will prevent electrical charge from building up on the surface of an aircraft

Electrically insulating aircraft materials and coatings increase the likelihood of dangerous charge buildup due to static electricity accumulation and are also not able to protect from lightning strikes.  Aircraft performance is critical for the proper support and maintenance of aircraft. We will eliminate the need for a separate coating, by producing an electrically conductive rain erosion resistant coating through the addition of well dispersed carbon nanotubes.  Therefore, no special mixing step would be required by the airmen.   Our lab tests demonstrate that the production of an electrically conductive rain erosion resistant coating is feasible. As previously mentioned, electrically insulating aircraft coatings increase the likelihood of dangerous charge buildup due to static electricity accumulation and do not protect from lightning strikes.  The current solution is a separate conductive coating which is applied to key surfaces.  Aircraft conductive coating systems in use today are very difficult to mix and apply.  A key part of our innovation and intellectual property that makes this technology possible is that of the introduction of both carbon nanotubes and hydrogen bonding.  The innovators have developed a technique to utilize functionalized carbon nanotubes in order to maximize their interactions with the base fluids that form the cured coatings.  The hydrogen bonding creates a pathway that increases electrical conductivity of the bulk material.  Normally it is very difficult to take advantage of the superior properties of individual carbon nanotubes as the junctions/gap between tubes is often so large that it creates a barrier that defeats the many advantages of carbon nanotubes.  The addition of functional groups such as hydroxyl groups can bridge this gap between tubes and overcome this gap/barrier.  It also allows for a bonding with the solvents and base fluids.  Once cured the coating will retain these bridges.  Further, once we have dispersed the functionalized nanotubes in the coating base fluids, it is a stable solution that can be applied to the customers aircraft through their preferred methods. Our Air Force customer would prefer to eliminate the additional conductive coating by using a conductive rain erosion resistant coating.  The  erosion resistant coating as purchased will produce an insulating coating and therefore must be modified to meet the expectations and requirements of the customer. Further development of these coatings will produce a product and process that will better satisfy the customer.