ORLANDO, FL – Neutral-silver and gold aircraft window coatings by PPG Industries’ Aerospace Transparencies group that were on display during the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) annual meeting and convention demonstrate aesthetic options in solar-reflective coating technology.

 

Offering solar-reflective coatings on aircraft transparencies with different aesthetics enables designers and operators to select windows that enhance an airplane’s appearance and interior comfort while providing the solar reflectivity characteristics needed for the aircraft’s design and operation, according to Anthony Stone, PPG Aerospace Global Director, New Business Development for Transparencies.

 

“Many of our customers have said they like the neutral appearance of transparencies with the silver coating,” Stone said. “However, we know there is interest in transparencies with the bolder gold coating, too, and PPG will be able to offer both.”

 

PPG’s solar-reflective coatings are being developed for glass and plastic aircraft transparencies to help reduce interior cockpit and cabin temperatures and air-conditioning demand. “They will offer an effective and attractive solution to reduce solar heat transmittance, especially with increasing use of composites in aircraft structures that don’t dissipate solar heat as well as aluminum,” Stone said.

 

PPG will be able to design and develop transparencies with solar-reflective coatings and to incorporate them into its electrochromic cabin window systems.

 

“The most advanced passenger windows will combine solar-reflective coatings and Alteos Interactive Window Systems for the ultimate combination of cabin comfort, convenience and aesthetics,” Stone said.

 

Transparencies with neutral-silver and gold coatings have similar solar-reflective performance, with lower infrared transmittance than uncoated transparencies so interior cockpit and cabin temperatures are easier to keep comfortable.

 

PPG tests have shown solar transmittance for a stretched-acrylic cabin window with its neutral-silver solar-reflective coating to be about half that of an uncoated window while maintaining high visible light transmittance. Also, the neutral look of the silver coating coordinates well with the neutral appearance of Alteos window systems, enhancing aesthetics when viewed from the interior of the aircraft.

 

PPG expects to qualify solar-reflective-coated stretched-acrylic passenger-cabin windows this year with a major airframe manufacturer. PPG also will develop glass cockpit windows with solar-reflective coatings.