From chemical formulation through testing and application to removal–Concurrent
Technologies Corporation (CTC) has the experienced team and comprehensive facilities
to address all of your coatings needs.
The Department of Defense (DoD) spends billions of dollars annually to repair, maintain,
and restore vehicles and equipment. Those tasks create special challenges for the
military due to their unique coatings requirements, which often are not met by commercial
paint manufacturers.
For 25 years, CTC has supported the DoD by developing, demonstrating, and transitioning
organic and inorganic coating systems, improved coatings removal methods, and optimized
approaches for cleaning surfaces prior to coating application.
Together with our affiliate Enterprise Ventures Corporation, CTC has experience
in fielding and commercializing products developed for specific applications. We
continue to optimize commercial coating materials and existing coating processes
and develop coatings for special applications such as ammunition, decontamination,
and signature management.
Our People
CTC personnel have the experience and expertise to formulate, apply, test, and evaluate
coating systems as small as a postage stamp to a full-size military vehicle, ensuring
our recommendations are practical and achieve real-world performance requirements.
Our laboratory staff, scientists, and engineers apply principles of organic and
inorganic coating chemistry, characterization, and testing to establish new coating
formulations, along with their application and production methods. They understand
traditional paints and powder coatings, sealants, adhesives, precision hi-build,
rapid-cure materials, and low-temperature cure powders.
For example, they know the correct types and quantities of additives to achieve
the desired coating performance in such broad areas as antifungal protection, gloss,
shelf life, spectral reflectivity, color control, corrosion resistance, and many
other attributes.
Coating Application
In addition to development and characterization of materials, CTC has expertise
in a variety of applications technologies including both manual and robotic methods.
CTC performs application process support in house, as well as on site at DoD organizations
or original equipment manufacturers.
Inorganic Coating Processes
CTC has many years’ experience in inorganic coating processes (plating, thermal
spray, etc.). Our staff includes professionals with experience in all phases of
plating processes (formulation, laboratory testing, demonstration, installation,
full production, and waste treatment). Our team members are certified by recognized
organizations in this field, such as NASF and NACE International.
For example, in a DoD project CTC formulated and tested a nitric acid-free alternative
for stainless steel passivation on U.S. Army aerospace components. CTC personnel
conducted this work based on similar successes in the commercial industry. Once
the most promising formulation was identified and demonstrated, it was installed
at an Army facility, where, compared to legacy passivation methods, it was found
to be both less costly and less damaging to the parts being treated.
Coatings Removal
Just as the development of coatings and the best processes to apply them are important
considerations, the safe and effective removal of coatings is also key to a holistic
coating solution. CTC’s professionals consider substrate properties, selective stripping,
hazardous waste generation, worker exposure, and removal rates to customize each
process to meet client requirements.
We automate technologies by coupling removal methods with precise robotic and environmental
controls, improving process control while minimizing environmental impacts. We use
our in-house testing capabilities to characterize material performance under simulated
in-service conditions.
Testing Capabilities
CTC’s coatings test capabilities include the full spectrum of materials characterization,
functional coating performance, corrosion protection, and environmental durability.
Salt fog and other tests are routinely completed to ensure optimum coating performance.
Other tests routinely completed include gloss, scratch hardness, UV color fastness,
color coordinate measurements, and hemispherical spectral reflectivity, among others.
Testing is conducted in accordance with ASTM International, military, aerospace
and other relevant standards. For unique requirements such as live agent resistance,
CTC’s partnership with the Army Research Laboratory provides rapid access to those
tests as well. CTC also applies its deep metallurgical understanding to determine
impacts of coatings and in-service environmental conditions on the performance of
metallic substrates.
