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Creating UV-Resistant Aircraft Paint

Robert McMenemy
4 min readJun 21, 2024

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Introduction

This morning, I had a revelation that could potentially revolutionize the aviation industry. As we know, Boeing and other aircraft manufacturers face a significant challenge: paint peeling due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV rays degrade paint, causing it to lose adhesion and eventually peel off. This not only affects the aircraft’s appearance but also leads to increased maintenance costs and operational challenges.

So, here’s my idea: What if we could combine silica, aluminium dioxide, and conventional airplane paint to create a paint that is immune to the peeling effects of UV radiation?

The Problem with UV Exposure

Aircraft are exposed to intense UV radiation at high altitudes, which can break down the chemical bonds in the paint, leading to degradation. Over time, this causes the paint to lose its adhesion to the aircraft’s surface, resulting in peeling. Addressing this problem would not only improve the aesthetics of aircraft but also reduce maintenance costs and downtime.

The Proposed Solution

To combat this issue, I propose creating a new paint formulation by incorporating silica (SiO₂) and aluminium dioxide (Al₂O₃) into the existing airplane paint. These materials have…

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Robert McMenemy
Robert McMenemy

Written by Robert McMenemy

Full stack developer with a penchant for cryptography.

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