I own a Cirrus SR/22 single engine prop plane. I would like to coat
the windows of the plane (which are made of acrylic) with a material
that would block ultraviolet radiation, which is fairly intense at
10,000 feet. Since the window surfaces are curved, a film coating
probably would not work unless it was designed and installed
specifically for that purpose. I would like to get a sun block SPF
protection factor of 20 or higher.
Please let me know if there is a product made for this purpose and if
professional installation is recommended an installer in the Las Vegas
or Los Angeles area that could do the work. |
Request for Question Clarification by
omnivorous-ga
on
07 Apr 2004 09:10 PDT
sl7-ga --
You're kind of testing the range of Google researchers here: though
there are UV protectants available in the after-market, the Cirrus
presents a special problem that researchers are unlikely to be aware
of, being a composite airplane.
Composite aircraft, unlike traditional aluminum, riveted planes, treat
the entire surface of the plane as part of the structure. What it
means is that paints and surface applications have to be tested and
type-approved. I KNOW that this is the case with wings and cowling on
the Cirrus because it has come up in detailed technical discussions
with mechanics, Cirrus and Columbia engineers. (That's one reason you
can get a Cirrus in any color that you'd like, as long as it's white.)
So, the clarification requested here: have you talked with Cirrus
factory service to see if any UV treatments to the windscreeen would
be allowable?
Best regards,
Omnivorous-GA
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Clarification of Question by
sl7-ga
on
07 Apr 2004 10:50 PDT
I have asked my Cirrus sales represenataive about this but he is not
aware of a solution. I suspect that if there is a product that would
work it would be a solution that would be painted on the inside of the
window surface. (A film coating would probably not work because of the
curvature of the surfaces that need to be covered.) If a researcher
were able to give me a specific product name of a transparent window
coating that is designed to provide SPF 20 or better protection when
painted on a window surface and if that product is designed to work on
acrylic, I would consider the question successfully answered. It
would be my responsibility to check with Cirrus and make sure that I
can use the product on the inside of the cock pit windows.
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Request for Question Clarification by
omnivorous-ga
on
07 Apr 2004 11:12 PDT
S17 --
Let me suggest the following Google searches, as they produce a
limited number of results for both film and liquid applicants:
"aircraft windows" + "UV protection"
"aicraft window" + "UV protection"
I'd think that talking directly to Cirrus service -- or to a good
service center (try TopGun Aviation, Stockton, CA) -- would be a good
solution. This has to be a common issue for kitbuilders, so it might
make sense to call the EAA in Oshkosh, WI too:
http://www.eaa.org/
Best regards,
Omnivorous-GA
Mooney pilot
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Clarification of Question by
sl7-ga
on
08 Apr 2004 09:40 PDT
I have tried searching using Yahoo and Google. The reason why I
placed a Google Answers qd is that I want someone else to do the
research for me. I am looking for a phone number of a company that
sells a product designed to block UV transmission through aircraft
windows.
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Request for Question Clarification by
hedgie-ga
on
11 Apr 2004 13:21 PDT
This is not an answer, more of an comment or an opinion.
I did not look at your plane,either so far.
However, based on undertanding of platics, coatings an U, I am fairly
confident that you do not want a coating. The atennuation depends
on thickness and chances are that the acrylic itself already protects you
sufficently. Added coating would be negigable contribution.
As an answer, if you so desire, I can find the data and calculate
the sode you are fetting. I would need thickness of the window.
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Clarification of Question by
sl7-ga
on
13 Apr 2004 18:34 PDT
The windows in the Cirrus SR/22 do not "roll down" and the pilot
operating handbook does not indicate the window thickness, however, I
would estimatte the thickness to be 3/8 inch. If you can provide me
an authority supporting the fact that a 3/8 inch thick acrilic window
already provides SPF 20 protection, I would consider that a
satisfactory answer to my question, since I am trying to achieve SPF
20 or better.
Thank you.
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Request for Question Clarification by
hedgie-ga
on
14 Apr 2004 07:54 PDT
I am sorry. I was wrong. I also apologise for the horrible spelling errors.
As a penance, here are few links:
1) UV range
The primary wavelengths of interest are those that fall between
200 and 2200 nanometers (nm). This section of the
electromagnetic spectrum can be divided into three
components:
1. Ultraviolet (UV) band, 200 - 400 nm
2. Visible Spectrum, 400 - 700 nm
3. Near Infrared Band, 700 - 2200 nm
There are some hard numbers here:
Graph 1: Relative Distribution of Solar Energy
Light Transmission and Reflectance
... This is because colorless acrylic sheet transmits visible light
uniformly throughout ... curves
for several amber colors having good UV absorption characteristics. ...
www.tapplastics.com/aa/pinfo/acrylite_light.pdf -
2)Acrylic offers light transmittance of 92%--theoretically the maximum
obtainable--with particular clarity at lower
wavelengths of 270 to 350 nm. For example, acrylic is
the material of choice for disposable cuvettes, used to contain blood
and other fluids, through which
a spectrum of UV light is passed for analysis. Although quartz glass
can be used for the most demanding applications, since it transmits
light as low as 220 nm,
it is not cost-effective in an application that increasingly favors
disposable plastics.
http://www.devicelink.com/mpb/archive/96/01/001.html
So, combinig 1 and 2, acrylic= PPMA is transparent to UV.
It is an exception -- they make cuvets for spectrometerers form Acrylic.
3) It looks like the way to get absorbtion up, us to embed metal or metal or
metal oxide nano particles.
On the practical level, it looks you need to getan alternative
supplier,of windows, or to bug maker of the plane, to address the UV
safety issue.
Few more links
... tinted or colored to convey a specific message; custom cut and
shaped; laminating
for safety or UV absorption. Although we always prefer acrylic because is ...
www.novadisplay.com/wholesale/ wholesale_accessories02.html -
... Urocanic acid (4-Imidazol acrylic acid), for instance, which is
present ... Full Spectrum"
sunscreen product offered a better continuous UV absorption than the ...
www.scf-online.com/english/issue22/uv_22_e.htm -
Characterization of Metal-Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis and ...
... MD 20899, USA ABSTRACT Metal-oxide nanoparticles can be used to
optimize UV absorption
and to ... of both TiO 2 particles dispersed in an acrylic-urethane matrix ...
fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/build03/PDF/b03023.pdf -
SUNSCREENS The present invention relates to UV screening ...
... the presence of the doped oxide should reduce the rate of UV
absorption by an ... contain
thickeners such as cross-linked or non cross-linked acrylic acid polymers ...
.. the presence of the doped oxide should reduce the rate of UV
absorption by an ... contain
thickeners such as cross-linked or non cross-linked acrylic acid polymers ...
www.oxonica.com/about_nanomaterials/N87219A.pdf -
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