The Elimination of Corrosion . . . is Nanotechnology the Answer to the USAF's #1 Aging Aircraft Dilemma
Abstract
United States Air Force aircraft currently average 30 years old. As this aircraft fleet continues to age, the cost of corrosion maintenance, both in terms of dollars spent and lost operational readiness, increases correspondingly. Corrosion maintenance cost the Air Force over $1.5 billion in 2004, and trends show that number quickly rising, as it cost only $800 million in 1998. These rising costs must be reversed before Air Force operations suffer serious detrimental effects. Nanotechnology offers one possible solution for creating new revolutionary anticorrosion coatings capable of adapting to environmental damage and conditions. Nanoscience research and development aims to discover new properties and behaviors of materials at the nanoscale (1 to 100 nanometers (nm); 1 nm = 10-9 m). Nanotechnology, subsequently, is the application of nanoscale discoveries toward accomplishing specific functions. The proposed nanotechnology-enhanced corrosion control coating, or NEC3, will prevent and combat corrosion degradation by directly targeting the thermodynamic enablers to corrosion, namely the galvanic cell formed between the anode, cathode, and electrolyte. Specifically, it will detect and repair small coating damage, detect and signal maintainers of moisture intrusion, detect corrosion and signal maintainers of its presence, release inhibitors to combat corrosion, replenish its corrosion inhibitors from the environment, and integrate needed repairs to the coating. Though significant technological hurdles remain, such as developing successful self-assembly methods and efficient nanocomponent manufacturing and integration processes, a trend forecast based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) development indicates that an integrated approach to research and development should make the NEC3 possible by 2029.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA539447
Entities
People
- Jason B. Avram
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College