Acrymax has been supplying coatings to the US Space Program since 1996 when Thiokol Corporation’s Space Operations unit, which supplies high-technology solid rocket motors to NASA’s Space Shuttle program, selected an Acrymax® elastomeric coating as a protective material for insulation on the Shuttle’s solid booster rockets, This high-performance waterborne coating replaced a solvent-based product that had previously been used on the Shuttle solid fuel rocket boosters (SRB).
Acrymax’s SP-130XT-LV coating was chosen from various coatings from several major manufacturers across the county, thanks to its unique performance characteristics. Thiokol subjected the Acrymax coating to rigorous testing over a four-year period. These included tests to measure rain permeability, fungus resistance, aging, ozone degradation, ease of paint application, flexibility, tensile strength, adhesion, and other criteria.
In 2020, Northrup Grumman who had acquired Orbital ATK (the former Thiokol space operations unit) contacted Acrymax about supplying our elastomeric coating in a bright red color to match the NASA logo. We were happy to accept the challenge.
The Challenge
The primary challenge was to accurately match Acrymax’s SP-130XT-LV coating to the same bright red color as the NASA logo. This color match was important for maintaining visual consistency and continuing to meet the high standards of NASA’s branding requirements.
The project required a higher gloss finish than what was typically done with the SP-130XT-LV. This presented a challenge in not only reaching the correct color but also ensuring that the final finish met the specifications set by NASA and Northrup Grumman.
The Acrymax Solution
To address the challenge of matching the SP-130XT-LV coating to the bright red color required by the NASA logo, Acrymax engineered a custom color formulation using high-performance organic pigments.
In addition, Acrymax developed a dual-layer coating system to address the high-gloss requirement. This included the application of our SP-130XT-LV coating as the base layer and color, followed by a topcoat of the AF-4200 fluoropolymer coating. The AF-4200 topcoat was specifically chosen for its exceptional gloss properties and durability. This combination provided a high gloss finish while also ensuring long-lasting performance and protection. The fluoropolymer coating improved the appearance and added an extra layer of protection against environmental factors, ensuring that the bright red color and high gloss finish remained intact.
The Result
The recommended Acrymax coating system was approved as the coating system for the logo.
After application, the successful launch of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful rocket in the world, occurred at 1:47 AM ET from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2022.
Acrymax continues to be a trusted supplier of protective coating systems for the US Space Program, and of industrial coatings to many other industries.
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