Desothane® HD Basecoat / Clearcoat
February 22, 2017
More than 500 aircraft are flying with PPG DESOTHANE® HD Basecoat / Clearcoat exterior paint system.
At PPG, we understand how color plays an important role in the aerospace industry. Colors connect you with your passengers, and your vibrant liveries distinguish you from another airline while promoting and representing your brand. We developed our DESOTHANE® HD/Basecoat Clearcoat exterior topcoat systems to give airlines the long lasting, high gloss, and color rich finishes airlines use to create exciting and beautiful liveries. Since introducing our Desothane HD/Basecoat Clearcoat exterior topcoat, more than 500 commercial and business aircraft have been painted using this system.
In addition to vibrant colors, Desothane HD Basecoat / Clearcoat exterior topcoat offers
outstanding features compared to traditional high solids topcoats. Customers who use our Desothane HD Basecoat / Clearcoat exterior topcoat use less paint and save 15%-25% in weight when compared to a typical coating. The high gloss surface finish of the clearcoat provides better hiding capability, a smoother surface, and protects the basecoat. Airlines and aircraft operators report longer color retention and greater coating performance. The topcoat system is easier to repair, more resistant to fingerprints, and has a wider application window for applying the clearcoat. The clearcoat is easy to sand and polish, allowing easier and faster paint touch-up.
According to Scott Cavin, PPG’s global segment manager for PPG’s aftermarket aerospace coatings, “Our base colors dry in only a few hours, instead of five to seven hours for high solids topcoats. The faster drying time can save as much as one full day during the painting operation. Also, the faster drying time means that multiple colors can be applied in the same amount of time that one color of the traditional high solids topcoats is applied. Our Desothane HD/Basecoat Clearcoat exterior topcoats save you time and money.”
Additional savings are gained when our customers apply logo colors and placards. The drying time is reduced to only one-half hour before the clearcoat can be applied, reducing this operation from 2 hours for high solids topcoats. These savings can generate additional revenue for our customers since more capacity in painting facilities is available, and aircraft can return to revenue service faster.
Desothane HD/Basecoat Clearcoat topcoats create vibrant liveries. When PPG’s ANDARO® special effect pigments are mixed with the topcoats, colors take on more depth and greater vibrancy. Our highly reflective Andaro special effect pigments open up more options for customers to design distinctive and rich liveries. Our team of coatings experts understands color and how to combine pigments to create unique, eye catching liveries.
We work with our customers around the world to create unique, customized color solutions that support their brand. The vibrant colors, greater color palette, faster painting times, and extended service life of PPG’s Desothane HD/Basecoat Clearcoat topcoats provide outstanding value. Each year, the number of aircraft painted with Desothane HD/Basecoat Clearcoat increases as our OEM and aftermarket customers expand their use. We look forward to talking with you about our customers’ experiences and how PPG’s coatings and Andaro special effect pigments can bring your colors to life.
To learn more about these products, see our
Desothane® HD Basecoat / Clearcoat page or contact your local PPG sales representative.
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