Abstract
Coatings in the 1980's will be very different than current coatings because of the effect of government regulations on solvent emissions. In order to meet these requirements, coating manufacturers will be turning to waterborne and high solid systems. These low organic and waterborne solvent coatings will require the development of new technology and application techniques. Since these systems will be quite different from current organic solvent coatings, in order for them to obtain a fair evaluation, it may be necessary in the early phases of their introduction to modify the conventional specifications to accomodate their unique characteristics.
Many air pollution districts are adopting regulations similar to Rule 1124 of South Coast Air Quality Management District in Southern California. This rule is different than Rule 66 in that it established limits on the amount of any organic solvent in a coating. A variety of emission reduction concepts are addressed in this rule including specific limits on high use coating, exceptions for speciality coating and exemptions for non polluting solvents. The rule allows for the use of bubble concept for the offset of one noncomplying coating operation against another overcomplying operation. Improved transfer efficiency is another method of reducing the amount of solvent emission allowed in Rule 1124. By demonstrating improved efficiency of the coating application method, coating materials that do not comply with emission limitations may be used because less material is wasted in overspray.
Reducing solvent emission from aerospace painting operations is a major challenge for the coating manufacturers and coating applicators. The key to a problem free transition is to be familiar with the air pollution regulations in your area and to begin your evaluation and flight testing of compliance systems now.
