PPG Aerospace Developing Solar-reflective Coatings For Aircraft Windows

The International Paris Air Show is June 15-21 at Le Bourget Exhibition Centre.



PPG is developing solar-reflective coatings with a neutral appearance for glass and plastic windows to meet aircraft designers’ and operators’ demand for higher performing products that reduce operating costs while improving the flying experience, according to Anthony Stone, PPG Aerospace global director, new business development for transparencies.



“Unlike other aerospace solar-reflective window coatings, PPG Aerospace coatings will not be visibly reflective but will be color neutral for the attractive aesthetics important to our customers,” Stone said.



“Our tests have shown solar transmittance for a stretched-acrylic cabin window with a solar-reflective coating to be about half that of an uncoated window while maintaining high visible light transmittance,” Stone said. “Passengers and crew will experience a noticeable improvement in comfort, especially when the air conditioning is not operating while an aircraft is on the ground.”



Stone said airlines and other aircraft operators will benefit because it will be easier to maintain cockpit and cabin temperatures for reduced air-conditioning demand and related costs, especially with growing aviation use of composites. “Because composite airframes don’t dissipate solar heat as well as aluminum, our customers are looking for ways to reduce solar heat transmittance, and applying solar-reflective coatings to windows provides an ideal solution.”



PPG expects to qualify its stretched-acrylic cabin window coatings this year with a major airframe manufacturer and to apply the technology to glass cockpit windows, Stone added.



PPG Aerospace is the aerospace products and services business of PPG Industries. PPG Aerospace – Transparencies is the world’s largest supplier of aircraft windshields, windows and canopies. PPG Aerospace – PRC-DeSoto is the leading global producer and distributor of aerospace coatings, sealants and packaging and application systems.



About PPG

Pittsburgh-based PPG is a global supplier of paints, coatings, optical products, specialty materials, chemicals, glass and fiber glass. The company has more than 140 manufacturing facilities and equity affiliates and operates in more than 60 countries. Sales in 2008 were $15.8 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG).