PPG qualifies classes of eco-friendly corrosion-inhibiting aerospace sealant

PPG's aerospace business has completed qualification of all three grades of its non-chromate corrosion-inhibiting sealant that provides commercial, general aviation and military aircraft manufacturers as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul shops with faster cure to reduce application cycle time for significant cost savings.

Since initial launch of lightweight, eco-friendly PRC® PR-2870 aerospace sealant in Class B for most-common extrusion application, PPG has qualified additional viscosities for application by brush (Class A) and roller (Class C). A replacement option for PRO-SEAL™ 870 sealant, PR-2870 sealant uses PPG-patented technologies to inhibit corrosion on metal in aerodynamic smoothing, structural surface sealing, fay sealing and pressure fuselage sealing aircraft applications.

According to Bill Keller, PPG global segment manager for aerospace sealants, PPG is the first manufacturer to offer a fully qualified chromate-free corrosion-inhibiting aerospace sealant in all three classes.

“PR-2870 sealant has received exceptional marketplace acceptance because of its light weight and process benefits as a viable alternative for chromated sealants, with several commercial and general aviation customers qualifying it,” Keller said.

PR-2870 Class C sealant is a roller-grade version that also can be applied by brush, extrusion gun or spatula and offers long application and assembly time that makes it ideal for large, complex aircraft structures, Keller added. PR-2870 Class C-12/24 sealant has the potential for use in place of C-8, C-12 and C-24 to reduce inventory. “It cures 70 percent faster than traditional interfay sealants at ambient conditions, reducing cycle time to offer aircraft manufacturers and maintainers the potential for significant cost savings.”

PR-2870 sealant weighs as much as 30 percent less by volume than Pro-Seal 870 sealant and is supplied in a two-part SEMKIT® package or pre-mixed and frozen cartridge. It is qualified to U.S. Military Specification MIL-PRF-81733, often used by MRO shops and aircraft manufacturers to select products. PR-2870 sealant is the result of PPG's collaboration on a project sponsored by the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) to develop an eco-friendly corrosion-inhibitive sealant offering high performance.

SERDP is a U.S. Department of Defense program, planned and executed in partnership with the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, to harness the latest science and technology to improve DOD's environmental performance, reduce costs, and enhance and sustain mission capabilities.