Revolution in Paint Locker
U.S. Navy presents: ""Revolution in Paint Locker""
This is a short film that talks about the importance of paint research to the Navy. It explains how important paint is to the continued success of the navy. The research at the Annapolis Naval research and development facility and at tropical areas tries to figure out ways to improve resistance to barnacles, temperatures extremes, weather, etc. This includes a toxic polymer that will kill anything that tries to attach to it. Flame retardant paints are discussed, as are non-skid paints for the decks of ships and aircraft carriers.
The Navy is also looking for paints that will help the area of the boat on the waterline. Without long term non-fouling paints the Navy is forced to remove barnacles and such with scraping and other techniques. The study of paint that can be applied underwater is shown in a lab with paint being applied in a tank filled with fish.The Navy is studying different coatings to prevent slime from growing on periscopes.
Cleaning techniques in dry dock are discussed, mostly involving blasting techniques to dislodge sea growth. Ways to apply the paint to provide total coverage are demonstrated.
The film then talks about the special paints needed for hydrofoil ships; the sidewalls of the foils are particularly vulnerable to erosion. The goal is to create coatings that will last 10 years, will apply to wet surfaces, anti-fouling properties that last indefinitely, and water based paints that are flame resistance.
Shots include naval ships on the open ocean, shots of scientists in the laboratory, divers scraping the hull of a ship, researching testing painted panels for slime build up, and hydrofoil ships of various design.