Arkema's specialty materials have been selected to protect NASA’s iconic logo on the Artemis 1 Space Launch System (SLS). The innovative coating is powered by Arkema’s Kynar Aquatec PVDF latex and provides very high durability to keep NASA’s red “worm” logo on the solid rocket boosters intact while soaring to space.

Artemis 1 SLS lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov 16. It sent the Orion spacecraft approximately 1.3 million miles, orbiting the Moon and returning to Earth on Dec 11.

The SLS boosters featuring NASA’s red logo are the largest, most powerful solid propellant boosters ever built for flight.

Coating powered by Arkema Kynar Aquatec PVDF latex protects NASA’s iconic logo on the Artemis 1 Space Launch System.

The waterborne clearcoat protecting the logo was created by Arkema’s partner, Acrymax Technologies Inc. Kynar Aquatec PVDF latex enabled Acrymax Technologies to design a water-based protective coating with high durability in low VOC, air-dry systems.

“We work hand-in-hand with partners like Acrymax Technologies to create custom solutions. Their ability to extend this partnership to NASA and develop a formulation strong enough to withstand the intensity of the most powerful rocket in the world is spectacular in many ways,” emphasized Paul Lavallee, global market manager Kynar Coatings at Arkema.

He added, “Kynar Aquatec PVDF latex is really unique in that it delivers such world-leading performance in a user-friendly fashion. No baking or post-treatment is required.”