Advantages of PMB for Non-Aircraft Applications (PMB) Part 2
I. MILITARY APPLICATIONS OF PMB, OTHER THAN AIRCRAFT AIRFRAMES
ENVIROSYSTEMS believes that the Plastic Media Blasting process offers major advantages to the military, not only for the stripping of airframes but also for the depainting of thousands of pieces of ground support equipment, motor vehicles, marine vessels, missiles, tanks, machinery and equipment and many commercial-type products procures by the armed forces.
Of particular significance will be the removal of Chemical Agent Resistant Coatings (CARC), a program initiated by the Department of the Army. CARC is the polyurethane system and the solvents used as a resin vehicle are very aggressive. In order for the system to be properly applied, the old topcoats must be completely removed. If this is not done, there is a high probability of paint failure occasioned by the “lifting” of old coatings and the breaking of the paint film integrity.
There is almost a natural union between the CARC program and the PMB process. Not only will the PMB process successfully remove the thick, multi-layered coatings found on equipment in the field, but it will remove it rapidly and without damage to hoses, brake lines, bearings, or seals. Nuts, bolts and screw heads, which have become almost buried in paint, will look as if they had been replaced with brand new hardware. Sheetmetal panels on vehicles and equipment will be left without any etch whatsoever and will appear to have been newly fabricated. Since the PMB process does not remove metal, the longevity of equipment will be greatly extended and will be left without the dry and battered look occasioned by sandblasting.
Finally, where PMB might otherwise compete with pneumatically-conveyed hard abrasive, such a silica sand, or walnut shells, the reduction in the amount of masking of sensitive accessories and the reduction in contaminated waste will be major cost offset.