CARC (Chemical Agent Resistant Coating) is a two-component polyurethane paint  used as a finishing coat on military combat equipment since 1985. CARC is designed to be easily decontaminated after exposure to liquid chemical agents, and the coating also is resistant to water, weather, hydrocarbons and acids. It has an infrared signature that makes coated equipment harder to detect. Component A is a polyester resin and Component B is an aliphatic isocyanate curing agent.

CARC system is a combination of pretreatments, primers and topcoats. After surface preparation and pretreatment, exteriors of vehicles are painted with an epoxy primer, then with an aliphatic polyurethane topcoat. The interior of hull-type vehicles gets an epoxy enamel over the epoxy primer.

CARC resists corrosion and the penetration of chemical agents. It does not soak up chemical agents the way alkyd paint does. It also resists removal by decontaminating solutions.

-ALWAYS use air line respirators when using CARC paint unless air sampling shows exposure to be below standards. Use chemical cartridge respirator if air sampling is below standards.

-DO NOT let skin or eyes come in contact with CARC paint. Always wear protective equipment (gloves, ventilation mask, safety goggles, etc.).

-DO NOT use CARC paint without adequate ventilation.

-Mixed CARC is extremely flammable. Use only in well-ventilated areas. Keep away from open flames, sparks, and other ignition sources.

-DO NOT use CARC for items like manifolds and mufflers that exceed 400°F. Doing so may produce toxic fumes and/or equipment damage.

-NEVER weld or cut CARC-coated materials.

-DO NOT grind or sand painted equipment without high-efficiency air purifying respirators in use.

-BE AWARE of CARC paint exposure symptoms; symptoms can occur a few days after initial exposure. Seek medical help immediately if symptoms are detected.

-Unusable chemical agent resistant coating (CARC) mixtures are considered hazardous waste.

Notes on use:

-CARC colors should not be mixed with one another as this will alter their individual effectiveness when applied to the end item. Blending is not permitted.

-Do not use CARC on items which are flexible. Because of its rigidity, the finish may crack when item is bent.

-Do not use CARC on rubber, lacquer coatings, or vinyl.

-CARC is not used on fabric, metals that have anodized or parkerized finishes (like weapons).

-CARC won’t last as well on wood. Wood expands and contracts with weather changes. CARC does not. It is not flexible enough to move with the wood, so it cracks and can peel off.

Federal and local regulations resulting from the Clean Air Act and its 1990 amendments restrict the amount of VOCs emitted during the application of surface coatings. As a response, the U.S. Army Research Laboratory Coatings Research Team developed a formulation with a lower VOC content, creating Water-Dispersible CARC (WD CARC). This newer formulation is lead and chrome free, and more abrasion and scratch resistant.

Water Dispersible CARC:

-Contains water and is thinned with water.

-The solvent content of WD CARC is less than half that of solvent-based CARC. It also contains no hazardous air pollutants.

-Is fully compatible with all existing CARC primers and topcoats,

-Is more flexible after application.

-Is more durable and doesn’t scratch as easily as the old CARC.

-Is much more durable in all weather conditions.

-Doesn’t fade like the old CARC.

-The personal protective equipment required during spray and brush application remains the same as for solvent-based CARC.

TYPICAL CARC APPLICATIONS:

-Aerospace/Aviation: Combat & Transport Aircraft, Ordnance

-Battlefield and Transport Vehicles

-Support Equipment, Radar Installations

-Tactical Battlefield Equipment

-Marine/Naval: corrosion resistance in salt-water environments

-Ordnance: corrosion protection, abrasion resistance and wear resistance

STM Coatech, SSPC PCI (International Coating Enspektörlüg), and Corroder (MPA Group England), Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Georgia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, the Sudan and Algeria official licensors.

It is also authorized examination center of the country we have already mentioned above, especially Turkey. Corrodere Training Courses are listed below.

1.Icorr Level 1
2.Icorr Level 2
3.Icorr Level 3
4.IMO PSPC
5.Corrodere Hot Galvanizing
6.Corrodere Insulation Inspector
7.Practical Workshop Icorr 1,2,3
8.Corrodere Marine & Offshore Inspector
9.Transition to Icorr

REFERANCES:
1. ,Olive- Drab, About the Original CARC Paint, data of access: 5 February 2018, http://olive-drab.com/od_mvg_camo_carc2.php
2. Inetres, Chemical Agent Resistant Coating (CARC), data of access: 5 February 2018, http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/cv/carc.html
3. Elekcrolurgy, CARC (Chemical Agent Resistant Coating) Paint, data of access: 5 February 2018, https://electrolurgy.com/processes-services/carc/