Rain Repellency for Shipboard Aircraft Transparency Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Topic No.: N102-135 Topic Title: Rain Repellency for Shipboard Aircraft Transparency Proposal No.: N102-135-1224 Firm: GVD Corporation 45 Spinelli Place Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 Contact: Erik Handy Phone: (617) 661-0060 Web Site: www.gvdcorp.com Abstract: GVD Corporation (GVD) proposes to develop permanent, rain-repellent aircraft canopy coatings based on its novel, solvent-free PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) technology. Commercial off-the-shelf rain repellents possess neither the required durability nor the needed uniformity for use on high speed aircraft. In addition to its well-known water-shedding capabilities, PTFE exhibits exceptional chemical resistance and temperature stability, both of which are required for successful canopy coatings. Notably, GVD's PTFE coatings are also optically-transparent, chemically-pure, and well-adhered, and can be deposited uniformly from the vapor phase. Unlike conventional PTFE coatings, GVD's PTFE coatings require no post-processing (e.g., high-temperature sintering), and are immediately ready to use. In Phase I, GVD will screen multiple PTFE coating formulations using a series of tests designed to simulate environmental exposure. Promising coatings will be downselected for rain erosion and other advanced testing. The most promising coatings will then be further developed in Phase II with an eye toward coating scale-up and manufacturing. Benefits: Since GVD's PTFE deposition process is carried out at low temperature, the desirable properties of the components being coated remains unchanged. The proposed development effort will facilitate continued scale-up of GVD's technology. Beyond aircraft canopies, GVD's durable hydrophobic PTFE coatings can also be used to treat commercial aircraft and automobile windshields, and to protect sensitive optics and electronics from the environment. PTFE also confers exceptional lubricity, and may be used as an alternative to silicone for mold release and to prevent stiction in MEMs devices. Return