The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has selected CeraTech’s durable, high thermal resistant Firerok cement for the Bell Boeing-built V-22 Osprey’s concrete hardstand and apron construction project at RAF Mildenhall, in Suffolk, England.
Specialty Products president, Tres Swann, said that Firerok’s corrosion resistance it to resist hydraulic fluids and other hydrocarbons in extreme military environment.
Ceratech CEO, John Hyman, said: "The combined thermal and corrosion resistance of Firerok makes it a perfect fit for extreme conditions and its durability provides a lifecycle 3-5 times longer than any portland product."
Firerok comprises of a dense crystalline structure which dramatically improves thermal resistance. The cement is being used at installations in the US, England, and the Mid-east.
Firerok can endure intermittent temperatures as high as 1,850°F, and sustained temperatures up to 570°F, while retaining its strength.
The denser bonding of the Firerok reduces permeability for the aircraft while enabling them significantly more durable in caustic and corrosive chemical environments.
The Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey is a multi-mission, military, tilt-rotor aircraft with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), and short take-off and landing (STOL) capabilities.
Powered by twin Rolls-Royce AE 1107C-Liberty engines, the V-22 aircraft is being designed to provide a combination of the functionality of a conventional helicopter along with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft.
The Osprey provides amphibious assault, combat support, long-range special ops infiltration and exfiltration, transport, search and rescue, medical evacuation and tanker capability.
Image: Two US Air Force CV-22 Ospreys prepare to land at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, US. Photo: courtesy of Russell Scalf.
