Plastic Media Blasting For Applications Other Than Aircraft Airframes Part 1
PLASTIC MEDIA BLASTING
FOR APPLICATIONS
OTHER THAN AIRCRAFT AIRFRAMES
As Presented at the:
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
TRI-SERVICE
ADVANCED COATINGS REVOMAL CONFERENCE
Orlando, Florida
March 1, 2 & 3, 1988
By Kenneth E. Abbott, Mgr. Member
Envirosystems Manufacturing, LLC
2555 N. Coyote Dr.
Tucson, Arizona 85745, USA
Founder and Former President
Stripping Technologies, Inc. (STI)
Tucson, AZ
I. INTRODUCTION
Overview
Envirosystems Manufacturing, LLC (ESLLC) formerly STRIPPING TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (“STI”) is involved in virtually every aspect of Plastic Media Blasting (“PMB”), ranging from the extensive use of PMB for the removal of coatings to its development and marketing of advanced, state-of-the-art PMB turnkey systems. These turnkey systems include plastic media blasting and reclamation systems, compressed air equipment, dust control systems, blast rooms, cabinets, accessories, masking supplies and plastic blast media.
Prior to forming STI, the principals of STI had in-depth experience in the application of PMB to aircraft airframes, including the stripping of the UH-60A Blackhawk helicopter, Gates Learjets, Sabreliners, Bell JetRangers and scores of small aircraft.
Although there continues to be a pressing need for the PMB process to replace the toxic chemicals used for stripping airframes, we recognized other applications that we believe, ultimately, will dwarf the aviation market. These applications include both the military and private-sector marketplace and encompass military ground support equipment, motor vehicles, marine vessels, machinery and equipment and a vast range of commercial and industrial components and structures.
As is evident from the papers presented at this Conference in the last few days, there are still many factors to be considered before there is a consensus on the application of PMB to aircraft airframes, especially where the process is to be applied to advanced composites and thin aluminum and magnesium substrates.
It was felt, therefore, that a presentation on some of the non-controversial applications for PMB might be a welcome change.
For many years STI employed PMB to strip a broad range of products other than whole aircraft airframes. These products included aerospace ground support equipment for the 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron stationed at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona; Maverick Missile airframes for Hughes Aircraft Company; aerospace and aircraft parts; metal and fiberglass automobiles and boats; large aluminum trailers; and a host of commercial and industrial components and structures. In short, they found the application of PMB to be limited only by the imagination. All of our applications have been performed rapidly and economically and without any damage to substrates.