Allison Park, Pennsylvania –PPG Industries, which makes coatings and speciality products from materials such as polyurethane, said the US Department of Defense has awarded $1.071 million to the company’s Coatings Innovation Centre to help develop non-isocyanate liquid coatings that meet military specifications.
The funding, part of the DoD’s Strategic Environmental Research and Development programme, will support the development of many coating chemistries that can be applied in the automotive refinish, industrial, and protective and marine coatings markets, PPG said in a 14 June news release.
PPG has partnered with the Army Research Lab and US Naval Air Systems Command on the project, and will serve as the prime contractor. As part of their role, PPG researchers will synthesise, formulate and test coatings that meet polyurethane performance standards but do not include isocyanates. The work will be carried out at the company’s Coatings Innovation Centre in Allison Park, Pennsylvania.
"Thechemical-agent-resistant coatings used by the armed forces are based on technology that is more than 40 years old," explained Ljiljana Maksimovic, PPG development associate, industrial coatings research.
She added, "Many contain isocyanate materials that can potentially cause skin and respiratory reactions. We'll be working to develop updated formulas that can address new and emerging chemical agent threats. These new technologies will also help prevent exposure to isocyanates and reduce isocyanate-related health hazards."