Polyurethane/polysiloxane ceramer coatings: Corrosion resistant unicoat system for aircraft application

New organic/inorganic ceramer coating system was developed using polyurethane as an organic phase and polysiloxane as the inorganic phase. The objective of the study was to develop a unicoat corrosion resistant coating which strongly adheres to aluminum substrates. The pre-ceramic silicon-oxo clusters react with the metal substrate, protecting it from oxidation, whereas the organic composition functions as a binder providing mechanical properties, optical properties, and chemical, wear and fluid resistance. The new ceramer coatings were evaluated as a replacement for chromate based coatings.; The alkoxysilane-functionalized coupling agent was prepared from hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) isocyanurate and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The functionalized isocyanurate was characterized by 1H, 13C and 29Si NMR and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. An organic/inorganic hybrid coating system was formulated using the alkoxysilane-functionalized isocyanurate and HDI isocyanurate. The coating properties indicated that alkoxysilane-functionalized isocyanurate enhanced adhesion up to 500%. Based on the hybrid polyurea/alkoxysilane system, the polyurea/polysiloxane ceramer coating system was formulated with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) oligomers. Evaluation of ceramer coatings showed that coating properties were affected by both the concentration of TEOS oligomers and alkoxysilane functionalized isocyanurate. In addition, the para-toluene sulfonic acid was used to catalyze the moisture curing process for the ceramer coating system. The addition of acid catalyst further increased the adhesion.; A series of high solids cycloaliphatic polyesters were synthesized to improve the UV-resistance for the organic/inorganic unicoat system. The polyurethane/polysiloxane ceramer coatings were formulated with the addition of the cycloaliphatic polyesters into the polyurea/polysiloxane system. The investigation of the polyurethane ceramer coatings indicated that the film properties were a function of polyester. A study of morphology showed that inorganic particle size was controlled by both the glass transition temperature of the polyester and concentration of TEOS oligomers. It was concluded from corrosion studies that the TEOS oligomers can compete with the chromate pretreatment for corrosion inhibition on aluminum.