Aircraft Spray and Coating Systems
At SCT, we offer spray and coating systems that are suitable for commercial, personal and military aircraft. We also provide fluid transfer systems, spray booths and custom, automated spray solutions.
For aerospace applications, it’s most common to use air-assisted airless spray technology or (or in combination with) leading electrostatic spray units, which offer superior speed and accuracy.
Recommended electrostatic spray guns for aerospace applications
Electrostatic units are the preferred spray guns of aircraft manufacturers and airlines due to enhanced speed and finish quality.
Graco is a trusted industry leader in high-performance spray guns, offering state-of-the-art technology for superior finishes.
Graco Pro Xp Range
The Graco Pro Xp Manual Electrostatic Air Spray Gun is available with an aerospace spray cap for this type of specialised application.
Air-assisted airless spray guns and systems for aircraft coating
With aerospace applications, large surface areas are usually involved. This means speed of application is an important consideration.
This is why the aerospace industry tends to favour air-assisted airless spray systems over standard airless spray units.
We recommend these air-assisted airless spray guns for aircraft spraying and coating.
Importance of aircraft finishing
The spraying and coating of aircraft and aircraft components can impact the performance and safety of the plane. The coatings can affect the aircraft’s aerodynamics and protect it against corrosion.
Ideally, a plane should be repainted every five to seven years to ensure optimal safety and performance. It’s very important to choose the right paint, ensuring it’s compatible with the aircraft components.
There are different methods of paint application depending on the component. These include spraying, dipping and brushing.
Spraying is the most common because it offers a higher level of control and a superior finish that won’t affect safety or performance.
Brushing is less common in the aerospace industry because it’s less accurate. It’s usually limited to touch-ups and repairs.
Dipping is not common for aircraft, but it can be used for primers and smaller components where a thick protective coating is required.
Aircraft paint types
There are four commonly used paint types for aircraft. Each offers its own properties that make it suitable for different applications.
Polyurethane Paints
Polyurethane paints offer excellent resistance to chemicals, solvents and abrasion, which is why they are usually used for high-duty industrial applications.
They are one of the best options for airplanes. However, polyurethane paint must be applied in a very well-ventilated spray-booth.
Epoxy paints
Epoxy paints are two-part coatings that need to be mixed in exact ratios to achieve a good finish. They offer exceptional hardness when cured.
Depending on the formulations, they can be stronger than polyurethane paints. They bond with a wide range of substrates and offer excellent temperature and chemical resistance.
Acrylic paints
Acrylic paints are water-soluble but become water-resistant when completely dry. This means the paint offers low toxicity and dries quickly, eliminating much of the wait time between coats.
Acrylic paints are often more flexible than oil-based paints, a property that can be useful for aviation applications. However, because they are water based, they can’t be combined to use the “wet in wet” approach that is used with oil paints.
Enamel paints
There are enamel paints that are designed specifically for aircraft. These paints create a hard shell when they’re fully dried.
Enamel paints are often used on airplane components, such as the engine, where the coating needs to form a hardened shell when fully cured.
Enamel paints offer very high heat resistance and won’t chip, flake or degrade when exposed to the intense heat of an airplane engine.
It is vital to ensure the paint you use is compatible with the airplane component materials and any existing coatings that have already been applied. You must ensure the paints comply with aviation regulations.
Considerations for the design of an aircraft paint booth
Aircraft paint booths may differ in many ways from a standard spray-painting booth, most notably in size. Aircraft have very large components, with large surface areas.
The type of aircraft you intend spraying will dictate the size and type of spray booth needed. Consider what type of ventilation is most suitable. Downdraft spray booths offer higher control of overspray because the air flow has a lower velocity.
Filters must be a key consideration. To spray aircraft, you need a filtration system that is compliant with aviation safety regulations. Filters should be accessible and easy to change to save time. Ensure they’re changed regularly.
Paint booths offer a better environment and therefore a better paint finish compared to open hangers. Although painting in an open hanger is sometimes necessary, where possible a well-designed booth should be used.
Other factors to consider include adequate lighting, temperature and humidity control, and the energy costs of your booth compared to how much income it generates.
The best spray systems for aircraft: what to consider
Air-assisted airless spray systems are one of the top recommended spray systems according to industry experts.
They can handle the large surfaces typical of aircraft spraying and, combined with electrostatic technology, the quality and speed are improved even more.
Air spray systems that use gravity, suction or pressure are widely used in the aerospace industry but are more suitable for smaller volumes or more intricate coating work.
Taking the time to choose the best spray system for the job at hand offers many benefits, including:
increased productivity
waste reduction
reduced operator fatigue
consistent, high-quality finishes
longer-lasting finishes
safety regulations compliance.
At SCT, we are experts in coating and painting spray systems for a range of applications. If you need more information about aircraft spray and coating systems, get in touch to discuss your needs.
