Coating/De-Coating Practices

New procedures and products are now being used to reduce the release of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. Many facilities now use plastic or aluminum oxide blasting beads instead of silica glass beads in the abrasive units used to remove paint. Additionally, new equipment, such as plural component pumps and chillwater units, allow for new methods of coating and de-coating. All of these advances reduce pollution and minimize the waste stream.

Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, AZ evaluated the F-16 aircraft painting process for ways to reduce or eliminate hazardous materials and hazardous waste. By switching from the use of alodine to the new PreKote® preparation system, the base eliminated hazardous waste generation and improved corrosion prevention. PreKote® is a non-chromated metal preparation chemical. According to product manufacturer Pantheon Chemical, by eliminating the need for chromate conversion coatings, acid etches, solvent washes and other toxic processes, PreKote® can reduce paint preparation time and costs by up to 40 percent achieving results superior to hazardous processes and products. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Design for the Environment program recognized this product for its environmental and human health benefits. Luke Air Force Base was one of the first bases to test the PreKote® system and applied for a change to the Technical Order for aircraft painting in order to be able to switch from the older method. For more information, please contact Jeffery Schone at (623)856-4166 or Jeffery.Schone@luke.af.mil.

Pearl Harbor Naval Ship Yard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Hawaii uses closed loop hydroblasting to reduce VOC emissions. It installed dehumidifiers and chillwater units so that less paint needed to be used, and purchased plural component pumps in order to paint closer to the object and waste less paint. These pumps mix the paint electronically, reducing human error and waste associated with incorrectly mixed paints. The pumps are also mobile, so the painters can communicate more closely with people operating the pumps, eliminating painting mistakes. For more information, contact Gail Shon at (808) 473-8000 ext. 4467, ShonGN@phnsy.navy.mil.

The Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity (SIMA) Mayport, Florida, installed a multimedia blast booth using polymedia light plastic media for use on fiberglass equipment. The system uses filtration to capture 99.9 percent of emissions. The polymedia light plastic was later replaced with Magic plastic media. Used aluminum oxide and plastic media from blasting operations are collected in 55-gallon drums for recycling. A commercial vendor picks up the drums and recycles the used media into patio furniture and garden products. For more information, contact Greg Cook at (904) 270-5126 ext. 3047, gcook@sermc.spear.navy.mil.