Reflective and resistant coatings and methods for applying to composite structures
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJohn Ackerman, Marc Shoupe
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Abstract
Coated composite articles and methods of applying the coatings are provided. The composites are preferably polymeric composites capable of withstanding temperatures of at least 600 degrees Fahrenheit prior to coating. The coating can be selected to impart resistance to higher temperatures as a result of the reflective properties of the coating. Additionally, the coating may be selected to provide desired electrical properties when an electrical current is applied. For example, electrically resistant coatings can impart deicing properties to the component, and may be particularly useful in aircraft components. The coatings can thus be selected to impart one or more useful properties to the composite component.
Claims20
A method of applying a coating to a composite component;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- supplying a polymeric composite aircraft component;
- applying a coating mixture onto the component, wherein the coating mixture comprises a metallic pigment selected from the group consisting of aluminum, beryllium, gold, silver, rhodium, platinum, or an alloy containing one or more of those metals, and a reflective-coating mixture carrier;
- and wherein the step of applying is accomplished by a method selected from the group consisting of chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, and electrodeposition;
- and
- curing the applied coating mixture to form a coating on the component.
A coated polymeric composite component comprising:
- a polymeric composite aircraft component having at least one surface;
- and
- a coating applied to the at least one surface, the coating comprising a metallic pigment selected from the group consisting of aluminum, beryllium, gold, silver, rhodium, platinum, or an alloy containing one or more of those metals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.