Erosion resistant films for use on heated aerodynamic surfaces

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a tape comprising: a) a single layer comprising a crosslinked polymer, selected from the group consisting of crosslinked polyurethane, crosslinked polyurea, and crosslinked mixed polyurethane/polyurea polymer, and b) an adhesive layer. In another embodiment, the tape comprises at least one layer comprising a semi-interpenetrating polymer network of a crosslinked acrylate and an uncrosslinked polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyurea, and mixed polyurethane/polyurea polymer.

1 . An erosion resistant construction comprising:
 a) an element of an aircraft comprising:
 i) an aircraft skin segment having an external surface, and 
 ii) a deicing mechanism associated with said aircraft skin segment capable of heating said external surface to temperatures in excess of 65° C.; 
   b) a tape comprising:
 i) at least one layer comprising a crosslinked polymer, selected from the group consisting of crosslinked polyurethane, crosslinked polyurea, and crosslinked mixed polyurethane/polyurea polymer, and 
 ii) an adhesive layer; 
   wherein the tape is bonded to the external surface of the aircraft skin segment by the adhesive layer.   
     
     
         2 . The construction according to  claim 1  wherein the tape comprises no polymer layer other than the adhesive layer that does not contain crosslinked polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The construction according to  claim 1  wherein the tape comprises no uncrosslinked polymer other than the adhesive layer. 
     
     
         4 . The construction according to  claim 1  wherein the crosslinked polymer incorporates at least one acrylate component. 
     
     
         5 . The construction according to  claim 1  wherein the crosslinked polymer is blended with at least one acrylate component. 
     
     
         6 . The construction according to  claim 1  wherein the crosslinked polymer is a crosslinked polyurethane. 
     
     
         7 . The construction according to  claim 1  wherein the crosslinked polymer is a crosslinked polyurea. 
     
     
         8 . The construction according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one layer comprising a crosslinked polymer is a single layer consisting essentially of crosslinked polyurethane. 
     
     
         9 . The construction according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one layer comprising a crosslinked polymer is a single layer consisting essentially of crosslinked polyurethane which incorporates at least one acrylate component. 
     
     
         10 . The construction according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one layer comprising a crosslinked polymer is a single layer consisting essentially of crosslinked polyurea. 
     
     
         11 . The construction according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one layer comprising a crosslinked polymer is a single layer consisting essentially of crosslinked polyurea which incorporates at least one acrylate component. 
     
     
         12 . The construction according to  claim 1  wherein the external surface of the aircraft skin segment includes one or more layers of paint and/or primer. 
     
     
         13 . A tape comprising:
 a) a single layer comprising a crosslinked polymer, selected from the group consisting of crosslinked polyurethane, crosslinked polyurea, and crosslinked mixed polyurethane/polyurea polymer, and   b) an adhesive layer.   
     
     
         14 . The tape according to  claim 13  wherein said single layer comprises no uncrosslinked polymer other than the adhesive layer. 
     
     
         15 . The tape according to  claim 13  wherein the crosslinked polymer incorporates at least one acrylate component. 
     
     
         16 . The tape according to  claim 13  wherein the crosslinked polymer is blended with at least one acrylate component. 
     
     
         17 . The tape according to  claim 13  wherein the crosslinked polymer is a crosslinked polyurethane. 
     
     
         18 . The tape according to  claim 13  wherein the crosslinked polymer is a crosslinked polyurea. 
     
     
         19 . An erosion resistant construction comprising:
 a) an element of an aircraft comprising:
 i) an aircraft skin segment having an external surface, and 
 ii) a deicing mechanism associated with said aircraft skin segment capable of heating said external surface to temperatures in excess of 65° C.; 
   b) a tape comprising:
 i) at least one layer comprising a crosslinked elastomeric polymer, and 
 ii) an adhesive layer; 
   wherein the tape is bonded to the external surface of the aircraft skin segment by the adhesive layer.   
     
     
         20 . The construction according to  claim 19  wherein the tape comprises no polymer layer other than the adhesive layer that does not contain crosslinked polymer. 
     
     
         21 . The construction according to  claim 19  wherein the tape comprises no uncrosslinked polymer other than the adhesive layer. 
     
     
         22 . The construction according to  claim 19  wherein the external surface of the aircraft skin segment includes one or more layers of paint and/or primer.