Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • UTECH Asia/PU China
  • UTECH Europe
  • UTECH India
  • UTECH Middle East
  • UTECH Southeast Asia
Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Ukraine
  • News
    • Asia
    • Americas
    • Europe
    • M & A
    • Financial results
    • Automotive
  • Data
  • Information
    • Country Overview
    • Market Sector overviews
    • Technical articles
    • Company profiles and strategies
  • Events
    • Exhibitions
    • Conferences
    • Webinars / Livestreams
    • Become a Speaker
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Issues
  • Subscribe
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
January 05, 2007 12:00 AM

US university's Coatings Research Institute gets $1 million Air Force contract

Utech Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More

    By Liz White, UT editor

    Ypsilanti, Michigan-The Coatings Research Institute (CRI) at Eastern Michigan University, based in Ypsilanti, announced on 12 Dec that it has gained a contract worth $1 million with the US Air Force. The institute will carry out various coatings research projects for the military branch at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, said a statement from the university.

    "The basic objective is we're building on polyurethane resins we previously developed for the Army," said John Texter, professor of polymer and coatings technology, and EMU's project director on the Air Force contract. "It is allowing us to take technology developed on previous earmarks and find a better niche in this Air Force application."

    This deal follows previous multimillion-dollar grants for coatings research for the US Army and the Navy, under which CRI successfully developed more environmentally friendly coatings to protect Army trucks and tanks from corrosion.

    The CRI hopes to build on that work and develop its polymer coatings further for use on the Air Force's plane fleet.

    Initial objectives for the group are to develop a polyurethane primer that is tough, but flexible, and able to withstand extreme hot and cold temperatures.

    "The government wants coatings to be tough and rubbery from 50 degrees below zero, as experienced in the Arctic, to as hot as it gets in the desert," Texter commented.

    Also under the spotlight will be improved fuel-tank coatings so that certain fuel additives, such as ethylene glycol, cannot degrade the coatings.

    Another aspect the research will cover is better methods of pretreatment-ones that do not include chromium-to improve corrosion resistance of the Air Force planes, including a fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers. "Getting rid of chromium pre-treatments and heavy metals in corrosive inhibitive pigments is the 'holy grail' throughout the Department of Defense," said Ted Provder, director of the CRI, who will be part of the research team.

    "There are so many areas that use epoxy primers. If we are able to replace the Air Force epoxy primers with ours, we will be able to take it into industrial and consumer markets, and make a big splash with it," Texter said. "That could lead to licensing technology that faculty and the University have a proprietary interest in."

    Recommended for You
    green sustainable lightbulb idea istock 800
    Designing PU structures with biodegradability in mind could improve end-of-life waste management
    2019, istock, spray foam, spf, generic, 800.jpg
    Leadership change coming at SPFA as executive director announces retirement
    co2 greenhouse gas istock 800
    BASF set to sell BDO and polyTHF with lower carbon footprint
    Latest Issue
    november 2023
    Get the latest edition here
    View All Archives
    Get our newsletters

    Breaking news and in-depth coverage of essential topics delivered straight to your inbox.

    Subscribe today

    Register to access our archive of leading information on the polyurethanes industry.

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Youtube

    Follow us on social media for the latest polyurethanes industry news and event updates.

    Logo
    Contact Us

    Crain Communications
    11, Ironmonger Lane
    London
    EC2V 8EY
    United Kingdom

    Editorial
    Phone +44 (0) 20 3287 5935
    Email click to send

    Customer Service
    Phone +1 313 446 0450
    Email click to send

    Resources
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Staff
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • Ukraine
    • News
      • Asia
      • Americas
      • Europe
      • M & A
      • Financial results
      • Automotive
    • Data
    • Information
      • Country Overview
      • Market Sector overviews
      • Technical articles
      • Company profiles and strategies
    • Events
      • Exhibitions
      • Conferences
      • Webinars / Livestreams
      • Become a Speaker
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Issues
    • Subscribe