Arctic-Ready Aviation Sealants and Greases: PRC DeSoto and AeroShell Solutions
Winter has fully set in across the U.S., and that means unique maintenance challenges. Greases and oils can become solids or syrups, and their effectiveness can (and often is) seriously diminished in the harshest conditions. Cold temperatures are among the hardest conditions for equipment. Of course, extreme heat is, too, but cured sealant will fail, jet fuel can erode uncured material, and so much more.
Your cold-temperature operations demand extreme reliability from your machines and the materials that support them. Cold conditions don’t take time off; icing conditions don’t take breaks.
We’re taking a look at the greases and resilient sealant you can depend on when the weather outside is indeed frightful.
Cold Weather Sealants: When Arctic Maintenance Requires Hardy Sealants
When the leading edges ice over is not the time to start considering the temperature range of your low-sag sealants. Not only do they need to have excellent corrosion and oxidation resistance, but they also have to withstand prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures and the conditions that accompany them.
PPG sealants have a broad service range that covers temperatures that pose a real challenge for maintenance operations on common aircraft substrates.
PPG PRC-DeSoto sealants are designed for cold weather and extreme cold temperatures encountered during Arctic operations. PR-2201 Class B, an electrically conductive, corrosion-inhibitive polythioether sealant, is rated for continuous service from -67°F (-55°C) to 250°F (121°C), with intermittent excursions up to 360°F (182°C) across its published service range.
Its low-sag, thixotropic paste consistency allows for reliable application with an extrusion gun or spatula in harsh, cold conditions, and the cured sealant provides excellent adhesion to common aircraft substrates and resistance to jet fuel, aviation gas, and oil during prolonged exposure to freezing environments and icing conditions.
For fuel tanks and aircraft fuselage sealing applications, PR-1422 Class A delivers dependable low-temperature performance down to -65°F (-54°C).
Designed for brush application, this two-part, dichromate-cured polysulfide remains elastomeric after prolonged exposure to fuel and demonstrates excellent elastomeric properties with no cracking, checking, or loss of adhesion during low-temperature flexibility testing. Its resistance to corrosion, oxidation, and saltwater-fuel immersion makes it a reliable choice for Arctic fuel tank sealing, leading edges, and fuselage applications where durability cannot be compromised during cold-weather flying.
Together, these PRC DeSoto low-temp sealants demonstrate why Arctic operations demand purpose-built cold-weather sealants (not general-use compounds) to protect critical aircraft systems and structures. When aircraft are exposed to extreme cold, ice, and pressure changes at altitude, selecting the right materials is essential for maintaining aircraft integrity, safety, and mission readiness as temperatures drop and operational margins narrow.
Types of Sealants and Greases Used in Extreme Cold Environments
Greases and their functionality in the cold are extremely important metrics for maintenance ops, because maintenance ops directly influence flight ops. Something as simple as grease can impact operations.
PRC DeSoto Low-Temperature Polysulfide Sealants for Arctic Operations
PPG’s PRC DeSoto low-temperature sealants are used where thixotropic paste suitable sealants are required in cold climates. They are well-suited for Arctic and sub-Arctic operations where structures must remain flexible, electrically reliable, and operational when the air is well below freezing.
Low-Temperature Performance
PR-1422 Class A sealant maintains an elastomeric property and adhesion across a broad temperature range, from −65°F (−54°C) to 250°F (121°C), covering all but the very most brutal conditions. It is suited for sealing cold-soak fuel tanks and fuselage components (de-ice systems, pitot heat, etc.) in extremely cold environments.
PR-2201 Class B sealant has a comparable low-end temperature range of −67°F (−55°C), allowing conductive and corrosion-inhibitive joints to stay intact and crack-free during extreme cold weather and thermal cycling.
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AeroShell Synthetic Greases for Cold-Weather Aircraft Lubrication
Let’s talk about the chemistry and structure of AeroShell greases that will keep your aircraft operating in peak condition
Material Chemistry and Cure
- PR-1422 is a two-part, dichromate-cured polysulfide for brush-applied fillets and fastener sealing in integral fuel tanks, cures at room temperature to a fuel-resistant elastomer.
- PR-2201 is a two-part, nickel-filled, epoxy-cured Permapol P-3.1 polythioether compound, supplied as a low-sag, thixotropic paste for extrusion or spatula application where conductive sealing is required.
Fuel, Fluid, and Corrosion Resistance
- PR-1422 has excellent adhesion and peel strength on common aircraft substrates (anodized and Alodined aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, Alclad) after immersion in jet reference fuel and salt-water/fuel environments, for long-term service in cold, wet wing structures.
- PR-2201 provides corrosion protection for titanium/aluminum, stainless/aluminum, and cadmium/aluminum couples, with no visible corrosion after 2,000 hours of salt spray and galvanic cell exposure, protecting dissimilar metal joints exposed to de-icing fluids and saline slush.
Electrical and EMI/RFI Performance (PR-2201)
- As a conductive sealant, PR-2201 has lap shear strengths on Alodined aluminum above 900 kPa and electrical contact resistance as low as 0.038 ohms in standard cure, for bonded and grounded structures in cold climates.
- Its low bulk resistivity (down to 0.12 ohm-cm under elevated-temperature cure conditioning) enables EMI/RFI shielding and grounding continuity through sealed joints, even after environmental conditioning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cold Weather Sealants and Application
Here are a few of the more common queries we get about these products.
What is AeroShell 33 grease used for?
AeroShell Grease 33 is a universal synthetic airframe grease used for general lubrication all over the aircraft. Landing gears, flap and slat tracks, you name it. It meets Boeing BMS 3-33C and can replace greases to MIL-PRF-23827C or BMS 3-24 on many Boeing and other OEM aircraft, except wheel bearings, applications above 121°C, and sliding applications requiring molybdenum disulfide.
What is the shelf life of AeroShell Grease 33?
AeroShell 33 has a standard shelf life of six years from the date of manufacture. This only applies when it is stored unopened in the original container under proper storage conditions.
What Color Is Aeroshell 33 Grease?
AeroShell Grease 33 is a blue-green or green grease.
What Is Aeroshell Grease 22 Used For?
AeroShell Grease 22 is an advanced general-purpose synthetic aircraft grease for severe service conditions: high bearing loads, high speeds, wide temperature range, long grease retention, and water washout resistance.
The typical applications include aircraft wheel bearings, engine accessories, control systems, actuators, screw jacks, servo mechanisms, electric motors, helicopter rotor bearings, instruments, airframe lubrication, hinge pins, static joints, and landing gears.
What Color Is Aeroshell 22 Grease?
AeroShell Grease 22 is an amber-colored grease.
What is the MIL-SPEC for AeroShell 22?
AeroShell Grease 22 meets MIL-PRF-81322G and MIL-PRF-24508B and also aligns with several international and defense standards, including DEF STAN 91-52, COMAC QPL-CMS-OL-301, DCSEA 395A, and NATO Code G-395 with Joint Service Designation XG-293.
What Is the Shelf Life of Aeroshell Grease 22?
Like AeroShell Grease 33, AeroShell Grease 22 has a shelf life of six years from the date of manufacture.
Procurement for Cold Weather Sealants & Greases Via GSA Advantage
The easiest way for your government maintenance teams to source and stock highly used parts and consumables is through GSA Advantage, and Greenwood Aerospace is your trusted partner for procuring these items. We carry a wide selection of AeroShell products, along with PPG PRC sealants.
Ready to buy now? Check out the tables below!
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