As I posted in another thread, there are three specifications for CARC paint.
CARC is an acronym for Chemical Agent Resistant Coating. It was designed to be capable of being decontaminated in the event of nerve agents being used against US forces. CARC also contains pigments that absorb different spectrums of light making it more difficult to observe vehicles using infrared devices.
Mil-C-46168 which is a two component version can be thinned with solvent, usually Mil-T-81772 thinner. The Mil-C-46168 material is easily mixed and usually is the least expensive to purchase.
Mil-C-53039 / Mil-Prf-53039 is a single component material which is reducible with the addition of Mil-T-81772 thinner. The 53039 material must remain closed as it reacts quickly with air causing the paint to skim over. This skim will not dissolve as this is now cured paint.
The newest version of CARC is Mil-Dtl-64159 which can be a two or three part system which is water reducible. The Mil-Dtl-64159 material has only been on the market for a few years and in my opinion still needs work. Mixing in a production environment has been problematic.
The 64159 material was developed at Aberdeen MD.
All polyurethane paints use isocynates as curing agents. There are two types of isocynates used but both cause respiratory problems.
For MV use, any commercially available polyurethane top coat will work for our needs. Fed-Std-595 lists the colors available, and the 30000 series colors are all flat in sheen.
When working with these materials, a respirator is mandatory, even when mixing. It’s not if you will become sensitized to the paint is when. If you feel tightness in your chest while working with the coating this is the first sign that you have been exposed. Any skin contact of the catalyst can cause a reaction.