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Show July 22, 1993 9 Hilltop Times New technology removes paint, saves environment Corp., Flashjet caught the Air Force's eye in early 1991 and has been tested extensively since then. Pulsed light burns off paint, then a stream of dry ice pellets cools 66 and surface the aircraft sweeps has a very low environaway the charred paint residue. Flashjet mental impact. It appears that this Deborah by Lansky is one of the most environmentally AFMC public affairs methods. It The Air Force has deployed a new weapon against benign depainting pollution a robot that shoots high intensity light works particularly well on and dry ice to remove aircraft paint. sensitive materials, such as Known as Flashjet, the process uses pulsed light sublamp to burn off the composites and energy from a high-intensit- y paint, and a stream of dry ice (carbon dioxide) pellets to cool the aircraft's surface and sweep away the charred paint residue. The evaporated dry ice, paint and dust particles are sucked into a vacuum collection system. The whole process operates from a robotic arm that maneuvers over the aircraft's computer-controlle- strates. We going to be "We're interested in seeing the 5 folks use Flashjet," Ivey said. "Plastic media blasting and some chemical strippers are used on the now, but this will be phased out with the carbon dioxide blasting. However, they've known all along that carbon dioxide blasting alone would not be used on the composites contained within "The Air Force has been looking for a cure-al-l paint removal process, and it looks as if Flashjet may be it." Environmentally, Flashjet produces a fraction of hazardous waste generated by chemical paint the thin-skinne- d strippers. The only wastes requiring disposal are the and scrubbers used inside the vacuum collecis soon filters feel tion system to trap contaminants. a proven technology. Typical disposal costs for an 5 using Flashjet would be less than $300 per aircraft, according to an April 1993 draft report on Air Force paint stripping methods. Disposal costs associated with chemRandy Ivey ical stripping, which creates thousands of gallons Air Force Corrosion Program Office, Robins AFB, Go. of contaminated rinse water, total more than F-1- F-1- F-15- s. Flashjet F-1- 99 d surface. "Flashjet has a very low environmental impact," says Randy Ivey, a chemical engineer for the Air Force Corrosion Program Office at Robins AFB, Ga. "It appears that this is one of the most environmentally benign depainting methods. $10,000. Flashjet also works faster and costs less than chemical strippers, according to Ivey. Since it's computer-controlledepot maintenance workers are not to the paint removal process. The Air Force has been trying since the exposed is "Flashjet just amazing," says Mark Cundiff, "It works particularly well on sensitive materials, to reduce its dependence on methylene chloride paint d We "It can strip any substrates. and Protection such as composites project supervisor for the strippers, which the U.S. Environmental techcan and the it Clean a be Air under to Act coating, the feel Flashjet is soon going paint in layers. You can strip proven Agency plans to regulate of a the leave media Two Amendments. alternatives primer on if you want to. It portion plastic nology." will our be 5 are alcohol and on process for composites and definitely The Air Force currently is testing Flashjet benzyl strippers already blasting d Now it's just a matter of materials. dioxide carbon A method to officials use. third in Robins blasting AFB, and hope put fighter jets at and it it, near is 1994. installing proving to the world that buying the process into production during production. Flashjet None has proven to be a cure-al- l. would operate in conjunction with a carbon dioxide Dry ice pellets it works." Flashjet received certification approval from the blasting system also scheduled for production dur- damage sensitive aircraft surfaces. Benzyl alcohol and Douglas Aircraft Company in April, and the Federal ing 1994, according to 5 project engineer Paul releases too many volatile organic compounds Aviation Administration approved Douglas' certifiblastAnderson. A Flashjet robot would remove paint only strips polysulfide primers. Plastic media cation in June. The Navy is testing the method on be masked which contains mostly ing is labor intensive (the aircraft must from the rear of the 8 mixand AV-8test panels. The Air Force Corrowaste d creates hazardous a and aluminum, to keep out dust) composite materials and Office has requested funding to test sion beads. and dioxide of ture paint chips Program while two robotically controlled carbon tiny plastic and on McDonnell would its Douglas Aerospace Flashjet Developed by strip units, blasting only dry ice pellets, other surfaces. typically are stripped and once four years. every repainted s F-1- 5s d, mid-1980- F-1- 5. tWn-skinne- F-1- thin-skinne- F-1- F-1- 5, F-1- thin-skinne- B C-14- 1s JULY msSE Northern Utah Radio Controlled Aircraft Club IS Radio Controlled Aircraft Airshow July 24, 1993 at 1 fk EsS g( Jfl& jMr 1981 NO. MAIN (Corner of Main 773-059- OF SUMMER CLOSEOUT g OFF Thru Antelope) ?? f, rA 73193 Easy monilily terms Policy written in English claims agents English-speakin- RcpfncntitiR UNA! a Nor I Umpshirc liuram.c Cnmrmnic SELECTED ITEMS l Our Reg. Prices $500.$900 Small thru 4XXX 50OFFEch 50 Ovcncu OFF NtefC iril -- St A f?ISP M II110) Zh Payable in dollars Low down payment Local, Lienholder provided with a policy copy k Stateside, insurance before you return home 5 MERCHANDISE U & k LAYTON THESE OFFERS EXPIRE JULY 31, 1993 - k and affiliates a spectacular demonstration of precision aerobatics, scale aircraft, helicopters and jets. The Spirit of Utah Air Show Team will perform. The Airshow will be held at the Northern Utah Radio Controlled Aircraft Modelport, nine miles on 12th Street. west of K&- k k PGEHICO p.m. FREE TO THE PUBLIC 51 I k Bring your lawn chair and enjoy END s. J W r J Vs50-$85- T "T family 0 " J$b rjftt NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK MONTH V9i t&Y Pa! rTZTT'lP UiJJMar) E3 Murray 4561 S. 900 E. 266-123- 2 Sandy 9314 S. 700 E. 255-500- 6 LAYTON OGDEN 1720 W. 1000 N. 544-546- 8 4015 Riverdale Rd. 621-545- 7 W.Jordan Orem 1563 W. 8020 S. 573 N. State 566-164- 8 226-102- 3 QM Jgl |