Durable Rain Repellent Coatings for Aircraft Transparencies Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Topic No.: N102-135 Topic Title: Durable Rain Repellent Coatings for Aircraft Transparencies Proposal No.: N102-135-0437 Firm: Luna Innovations Incorporated 1 Riverside Circle Suite 400 Roanoke, Virginia 24016 Contact: Bryan Koene Phone: (540) 558-1699 Web Site: www.lunainnovations.com Abstract: Maintaining a high level of visibility in aircraft transparencies and other optical equipment is very difficult under inclement operational conditions. There have been significant efforts in the development of hydrophobic and superhydrophobic coatings that will shed water quickly off of surfaces. Whereas many technologies and coatings have demonstrated the primary goal of achieving watershedding properties, they have lacked mechanical and environmental durability, or have been difficult or expensive to apply. Luna Innovations is developing a class of highly durable watershedding coatings, titled HARSH (Hard Abrasion Resistant Superhydrophobic), which can be achieved through controlled surface morphology. Luna proposes to utilize this transparent, superhydrophobic, abrasion resistant coating developed in our laboratories for use on aircraft windscreens and canopies. The technology developed on this program will decrease life cycle costs, reduce maintenance, and increase the safety of Navy equipment and personnel. Benefits: This proposed research is part of an overall larger effort and fits well into the strategic focus of Luna on protective coating development. The ability to form transparent, abrasion resistant, superhydrophobic coatings on various surfaces will have a huge effect on military and commercial applications such as coatings for transparent articles such as windows, eyewear, mirrors, automotive, safety goggles, and underwater eyewear. There are many ancillary applications that will arise from this technology such as drag reduction in marine vessels microfluidics, and municipal pipes. Return