Durable Non-Skid Coating for Carriers

Statement of Problem:

Approximately 80% of aircraft carrier flight deck non-skid coatings are replaced following each deployment.  Non-skid coatings in arrested landing areas are removed and replaced two or three times per deployment cycle.  Flight deck coatings have degraded during deployment to an extent requiring the platform to be diverted to a foreign port for repair.  Repairs at foreign ports are expensive and result in temporary loss of platform availability. 

Proposed Solution: 

Develop a high-performance organic non-skid system exploiting advances in polymer chemistry utilized in bridge and roadway overlays.  Bridge and roadway overlays face wear and traffic challenges similar to that of aircraft carrier flight decks and have demonstrated in-service performance of 20 years or more.  The abrasive used on roadway overlays is not suitable for carrier flight deck operations.  The proposed solution would leverage the advanced polymer chemistry used in roadway overlays and utilize ultra-tough, state-of-the art abrasives used in long-life steel cutting and grinding tools.  The proposed solution will provide a rapid-cure modified epoxy system capable of supporting vehicular traffic within four hours of application at 50ºF.  The proposed solution will be spray-applied in a semi-automated fashion.

Anticipated Deliverables: 

• Coating:  A flight deck non-skid coating capable of lasting two or more deployments with sustained corrosion protective capabilities and high coefficient of friction in heavy traffic areas. 
• Equipment:  A combined surface preparation and spray-application system capable of applying the durable non-skid on aircraft carrier and LHD flight decks. 

 Expected and Quantifiable Depot Benefits:

Naval Shipyards will be able to utilize this equipment and coating technology to perform non-skid coating application and repairs in-house.  Currently, most non-skid application and repair operations are performed by outside contractors.  This technology and equipment is also suitable for application of non-slip coatings on AAV and LAV deck plates by Marine Corps and Army personnel.  Extending the durability and functionality of non-skid coatings to last through two full deployments will save the Navy ~ $5M per year.

Participants: 

• Applied Research Laboratory, Penn State (Academic)

-         POC: Charles Tricou, Tricou@psu.edu  814-863-4459,

• TAMMS, a subsidiary of Epoxy Chemicals, Inc. (Industrial polymer supplier)
• Saint-Gobain Minerals (Industrial abrasive supplier)
• Advanced Systems Technology, Inc. (Industrial application equipment supplier)
• Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (Navy Research Lab)
• CINCLANTFLEET
• PEO Carriers 
• NAVSEA 05M1 (Navy qualifying authority)
• NRL Key West (Navy test lab)

NCMS Contact:  Steve Hale, (734) 995-2195,steveh@ncms.org