Minor damage to conventional enamel finishes ordinarily used on engine housings is repaired with epoxy topcoat material or air-drying enamel. Elastomeric coatings are used as a coating system to protect the exterior laminated plastic parts of high-speed aircraft, missiles, and helicopter rotor blades from rain erosion. They offer good resistance to the effects of weather and aromatic fuels. Excellent adhesion is obtained after a 7-day drying period. Repairs to these coatings in the field are impracticable because of the long curing time.
Kits are available to repair coatings where limited touchup is required.
These kits contain a primer, neoprene topcoat, and antistatic coating. If the radome or leading edge coatings are in bad condition, they should be stripped completely and recoated with epoxy primer and acrylic topcoat as a temporary measure. If schedules and conditions permit adequate curing of elastomeric coatings, these original coatings may be replaced. The repair kits are normally bought open purchase to ensure that fresh materials are available. They should be stored in a cool place or refrigerated.