Technical data

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL DISCUSSION OF COATING
MATERIALS AND TERMS
1.1 INTRODUCTION.
NOTE
See Chapter 8 for Air Force policy on determin-
ing when individual aircraft are to be repainted or
touched up.
The surfaces of aircraft, missiles, and associated equipment
are subjected to hostile environments both natural and man-
made. Inadequate control or prevention of metal corrosion or
other forms of surface deterioration is costly and can shorten
weapon or equipment life, hinder mission accomplishment, or
endanger personnel or equipment. To add to their ability to
resist detrimental environments, surfaces are coated in vari-
ous ways with a variety of materials. Coatings are divided
into two main groups: inorganic and organic. The principal
and most versatile means of protection is organic coating, or
“paint”. In general, a suitable organic coating system, prop-
erly applied, offers greater protection against corrosion on
metals than an inorganic finish (such as a metallic plating)
alone and is more easily maintained. This technical manual
also covers some inorganic materials, insofar as they are
applied in surface preparation for painting by personnel
involved with paint removal and painting operations.
1.2 GENERAL DISCUSSION OF ORGANIC COAT-
INGS.
NOTE
Precautionary measures shall be taken to prevent
paint and paint removal waste from contaminat-
ing air, water, or soil. Some of the chemicals
utilized for painting and paint removal require
treatment or other special control prior to dis-
posal. Disposal of materials shall be accom-
plished under the direction of the Base Safety
Office, Base Civil Engineer, Bioenvironmental
Engineer, and Environmental Management in
accordance with applicable directives and in a
manner that will not result in violation of local,
state, or federal pollution criteria. Detailed infor-
mation for disposal is cited in AFI 32-1067, AFI
32-7041, AFI 32-7042, AFPAM 32-7043, AFI
32-7045, AFI 32-7080, AFI 32-7086, and
AFOSH STD 91-501.
To provide optimum protection from deterioration and cor-
rosion, the proper coating systems (combination of pretreat-
ment, primer, and topcoat) must be selected for a specific
application. The selection of the proper coating system
depends on the material to be coated, the environment to
which the item will be subjected, and the service life
requirement of the coating. No single coating or coating
system can perform adequately on all types of surfaces under
all conditions to which Air Force equipment is subjected. For
example, a coating paint conforming to Specification MIL-
C-27725/SAE AMS-C-27725 is good for fuel immersion
service, but is inadequate for exposure to an industrial
atmosphere or high humidity conditions. Many primers and
topcoats can be used in various combinations; however, some
primers are specifically formulated for a particular type
topcoat. One Component, Alkyd Base Primers are for use
under enamels. Use of this primer under epoxy or polyure-
thane coatings will result in premature failure of the coating
system.
1.2.1 Coatings Systems For Metal Surfaces. Unless
protected, metals surfaces (with the exception of stainless
steel, titanium and some of the more exotic metals) react with
oxygen and various contaminants in the atmosphere, particu-
larly in the presence of moisture, to form rust or other
corrosion products. The most common method of preserving
metals is by applying organic coatings.
1.2.1.1 Polishing, buffing, and waxing of aircraft and parts
is prohibited unless authorized and directed by the MAJCOM
Senior Logistics Official.
1.2.2 Aircraft Protective Finish Systems. MIL-STD-
7179 covers the general requirements for protective finishes
and coatings on aerospace weapon system structures and
parts. (It does not necessarily govern coatings on aeronautical
equipment such as propellers or power plants, nor those on
accessories such as motors, generators, instruments, etc.) The
level of coating protection is specified depending on the
environment to which the weapon system is to be subjected.
1.3 ORGANIC COATING.
An organic coating or paint may be defined as a carbon based
liquid or semi-liquid material which is applied to a surface by
some mechanical means and which, when dried or cured, will
provide an adherent film of certain desired characteristics.
Organic coatings are variously classed as paints, enamels,
varnishes and lacquers. As these classifications are not always
practical, due to modern formulations, and because the
coating materials dealt with in this technical manual are
almost exclusively organic in chemical structure, the pre-
ferred term “organic coating” is used to designate finishing
materials in general. For the purposes of this technical
manual the term is extended to include some heavy elasto-
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